Blood flow restriction belts and system

ABSTRACT

An inflatable belt  100  for use in a BFR system with an outer belt material  102  hermetically sealed to an inner belt material  101  along a perimeter, thereby forming at least one inflatable chamber  103 , the inflatable chamber having an input port  104  for accepting a gas into the chamber, the inflatable belt further comprising a first fastening means  110  in communication with the outer belt material, for attaching to a second fastening means  111  in communication with the outer belt material, thereby locking a circumference of the inflatable belt when wrapped around a user&#39;s limb, the inflatable belt providing sufficient volume and compliance so as to reduce spikes in pressure and thereby improve comfort and safety of the inflatable belt for use in restriction of blood flow for muscle development.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 16/833,554 filed onMar. 28, 2020, entitled “Blood Flow Restriction Belts and System.” U.S.Ser. No. 16/833,554 is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 15/430,404 filedon Feb. 10, 2017 and entitled “Blood Flow Restriction Belts and System.”U.S. Ser. No. 15/430,404 claims priority to and the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/293,536 filed on Feb. 10, 2016 andentitled “Blood Flow Restriction Belts and System,” and to U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/311,936 filed on Mar. 23, 2016 andentitled “Barrel Inflatable Belt.” Each of the foregoing applicationsare hereby incorporated by reference, including but not limited to thoseportions that specifically appear hereinafter, but except for anysubject matter disclaimers or disavowals, and except to the extent thatthe incorporated material is inconsistent with the express disclosureherein, in which case the language in this disclosure shall control.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to blood flow restriction systems, and morespecifically to an inflatable belt design for use therein, to provide asimple to manufacture, simple to use, comfortable, effective, and lessexpensive alternative to current designs and products in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The muscle training apparatus, system, and method described in theseapplications is spreading fast globally because of its beneficialeffects as described below. In addition, national and foreign physiciansas well as universities have made research and investigations about itand, as a result of them, researchers have published many articles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A-1 —shows a straight overlap type of an inflatable belt designcomprising an outer belt material, an elastic inner belt material,connected to form a gas bladder, and a belt fastening means, as depictedwith hook and loop fasteners, to fix the circumference of the inflatablebelt when applied to a limb in a straight overlap fashion, and inputport for accepting a gas into the gas bladder, for use in a BFR system.

FIG. 1A-2 —shows the inflatable belt of FIG. 1A-1 but in an appliedstate.

FIG. 1B—shows the inflatable belt of FIG. 1A-1 with an inflation meanspermanently connected to the input port, the inflation means furthercomprising an adjustable release valve.

FIG. 1C—shows the inflatable belt of FIG. 1A-1 with a belt valve tomaintain pressure in the inflatable belt when disconnected from aninflation means.

FIG. 1D-1 —shows the inflatable belt of FIG. 1C with an inflation meanshooked up to the belt valve, and the inflatable means further comprisingan adjustable pressure limiting valve.

FIG. 1D-2 —shows the inflatable belt of FIG. 1C, with the belt valvecoupled with an adjustable pressure limiting valve, to hold, but allowthe release of a gas, and the adjustable pressure limiting valve furtherconnected to an inflation means via a tube to transport a gas.

FIG. 1E—shows the inflatable belt of FIG. 1A-1 with an additional bodyinterface component in communication with the inner belt material.

FIG. 1F—shows an inflatable belt design similar to FIG. 1A-1 wherein thebelt fastening means is a ratchet style system.

FIG. 1G—shows an inflatable belt design similar to FIG. 1A-1 wherein thebelt fastening means is a cam-lock style system.

FIG. 1H—shows an inflatable belt design similar to FIG. 1A-1 , furthercomprising a belt spring to add additional elasticity in thelongitudinal direction for added comfort, safety, and assistance inkeeping a constant pressure under muscle contraction.

FIG. 1I—shows an inflatable belt design similar to FIG. 1G, furthercomprising a spring element, which is secured by the cam-lock stylemechanism.

FIG. 1J—shows an inflatable belt design similar to FIG. 11 , but with anadditional belt tension strap which connects to the belt spring and issecured into the cam-lock.

FIG. 1K—shows fold-back design of an inflatable belt with an outer beltmaterial, an elastic inner belt material connected to the outer beltmaterial and forming a gas bladder, in input port for accepting air intothe gas bladder, a body interfacing component, and hook and loopfasteners for a belt fastening means, a belt spring element coupled to aloop coupler in the form of a D-ring, and the hook fastener passingthrough the loop coupler to double back and affix to the loop fastener.

FIG. 1L—shows two versions of FIG. 1K where one is pre-stretched, anddemonstrates smooth contouring and no kinking, and one is notpre-stretched and demonstrates visible kinking.

FIG. 2A—shows an example of a body interfacing component with optionalmeans to attach to one or more components of an inflatable belt, and anoptional method for determining an appropriate length of the bodyinterfacing component based on the arm circumference, or a fractionthereof, to dictate a preset tension when applied to the arm by simplybutting up the two ends of the body interfacing component as the initialtension guide.

FIG. 2B—shows the body interfacing component for FIG. 2A, having beencut down by an appropriate length by x, for an individual user.

FIG. 2C—shows the body interfacing component of FIG. 2B, further incommunication with the inflatable belt of FIG. 1A-1 prior to applicationon the user's limb.

FIG. 2D—shows the inflatable belt plus body interfacing componentassembly in the proper initially tensioned configuration with the twoends of the body interfacing component butting up together.

FIG. 2E—shows a variation of the configuration of FIG. 2D where two suchbody interfacing components are used on either edge of the inflatablebelt, instead of a single body interfacing component that spans the fullwidth of the belt.

FIG. 3A—shows an example of a variation of the inflatable belt of FIG.1A-1 wherein the inner belt material is substantially shorter than theouter belt material and the gas bladder covers only a portion of thecircumference of the limb, targeting the zone required to optimallycompress the veins.

FIG. 3B—shows an example of a non-rectangular gas bladder, designed forthe legs, for optimizing the comfort for the user by only compressing atarget compression zone, while simultaneously providing sufficientcompression to achieved adequate BFR.

FIG. 4 —shows an inflatable belt assembly wherein a gas bladder isremovable from an outer belt material via fastening means, to allow forcleaning of the gas bladder, or quick attachment of bladders ofappropriate lengths for users of different limb girths.

FIG. 5 —shows an inflatable belt assembly comprised of a molded elasticbladder, an outer belt material, and anti-roll profile and features.

FIG. 6 —shows an inflatable belt assembly comprised of a molded elasticbladder, an outer belt material, and anti-roll profile and features.

FIG. 7A—shows a pre-inflated belt encompassing a fixed volume of gas,with an outer belt material, an elastic inner belt material connectedwith the outer belt material to form a gas bladder, a tensioning means,for example a ratchet style mechanism, to fix a circumference of thebelt around a user's limb, and no input port or means of gas entering orleaving.

FIG. 7B—shows the pre-inflated belt of FIG. 7A with an additional inputport and pressure readout to know a pressure in the gas bladder whentensioned around a user's limb.

FIG. 8A—shows a pressure relief valve combo comprising a manual reliefactuator in-line with an air flow, and an adjustable pressure limitingvalve to pre-set a predetermined pressure cutoff to limit the pressurein an inflatable belt for use in BFR training.

FIG. 8B—shows a pressure relief valve combo comprising a manual reliefactuator perpendicular to an air flow, an adjustable pressure limitingvalve to pre-set a predetermined pressure cutoff to limit the pressurein an inflatable belt, and a one-way valve for limiting return of a gasfrom a gas bladder in the inflatable belt, for use in BFR training.

FIG. 9A—shows an electro mechanical blood flow restriction systemcomprising an inflatable belt as described in FIG. 2C, anelectromechanical valve in communication with the input port to thebelt, a pressure sensor also in communication with the input port of thebelt, a microprocessor in communication with the pressure sensor, a beltvalve for quick connection and disconnection of an air hose, an airhose, and a manual inflation means.

FIG. 9B—shows an electro mechanical blood flow restriction systemsimilar to FIG. 9A, except the belt valve incorporates a gas flowshutoff means and is in communication with the input port instead of theair path going through the electromechanical valve.

FIG. 9C—shows one example of a flow chart of data and programmeddecision making around how to achieve a safe, accurate, programmable,pre-determined pressure limit in the blood flow restriction systems ofFIGS. 9A, B, while requiring the user to do some minor work as a warmupexercise.

FIG. 9D—shows an example of a flow chart of cycle function, that can beeffectively achieved with the blood flow restriction system of FIGS. 9A,B, such that the cycle parameters may be pre-programmed without heavy,expensive, power intensive, noisy, electro mechanical pump is required,and the user is forced to do a beneficial warmup style exercise toprolong the protocol.

FIG. 10 —shows a cross section of the arm in the vicinity where theinflatable belts should be placed, and highlights the location of theveins in the arm for targeting purposes.

FIG. 11 —shows a cross section of the leg in the vicinity where theinflatable belts should be placed, and highlights the location of theveins in the arm for targeting purposes.

FIG. 12 —shows some examples of ratchet style mechanisms that may beused to constrain the circumference dimension of the inflatable beltwhen applied to the limb.

FIG. 13 —shows three prototypes of inflatable belts that wereconstructed for testing; the left most is a cam-lock style with beltspring showing a belt tensioning strap, the middle belt is the samestyle but laid flat, and the right most belt is a cam-lock configurationin conjunction with a loop couple to double-back as a means offacilitating tightening of the belt.

FIG. 14A—shows a non-inflatable belt that incorporates a prescriptiondistance measuring and positive locking system for instructing a novicehow to properly and precisely set the initial tension of the belt.

FIG. 14B—shows an inflatable belt with similar prescription distancemeasuring and positive locking system as FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14C—shows an inflatable belt in perspective view, combiningproperties and features with the distance measuring and positive lockingmeans of FIG. 14A.

FIG. 14D—shows a prototype inflatable belt built around the designaspects of FIG. 14C, further incorporating color identification andreflective features.

FIG. 14E—shows a step flow chart describing how a user takes advantageof the distance measuring and locking concept shown in FIGS. 14A-D.

FIG. 15 —shows a step flow chart describing use of an inflatable belt.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The muscle strength increasing method according to these patents is adistinctive non-conventional one that involves compression of an arm orleg at a position near the top thereof. This muscle strength increasingmethod (the subject muscle strength increasing method is herein referredto as a “Blood flow restriction muscle training method” or simply BFR.

Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFR) is spreading globally. However,there are various aspects of current technology and expertise that arelimiting the distribution of the technology. The BFR training system,and method described in these applications is a distinctivenon-conventional one that involves compression of an arm and/or leg at aposition near the top thereof.

A relatively narrow (4-10 centimeter), pneumatic belt of unique design,is applied at a proximal location on an extremity, proximal to the mainbelly of the m. bicep brachia on the arm, and as high on the thigh, aspossible, on the leg. The desired effect is to produce an obstruction orimpediment to deep venous flow coming out of the limb. To the extentpossible, veins and capillaries in the distal muscle are distended andfull of blood. The muscle belly and its blood vessels are not covered bythe belt, allowing some blood to perfuse those fibers.

Once in place, the belt is inflated to a certain pressure to alter thecirculation in the vasculature of the extremity, and this particularpressure level is critical for the effectiveness of this BFR technique.

Effects on the Vasculature.

-   -   a. Superficial Veins—are completely blocked by the inflated        belt, resulting in distended surface veins and redirecting blood        into the deep venous system.    -   b. Deep Veins—Change the pattern of the deep venous outflow from        a rhythmic, gentle steady stream of blood, flowing back to the        central circulation, to a more pulsatile flow ranging from no        flow (0 mls/sec) at times, to very brisk flows (>100 mls/sec)        with distal muscular contractions. The deep venous system        distends to accommodate the flow into the extremity that is        temporarily prevented or impeded from leaving the extremity and        then collapses as blood is emptied by muscle contraction and        pushed past the deep venous obstruction.    -   c. The Capillary network is distended and has increased        permeability.    -   d. Arteries—may have inflow reduced, but remain patent.    -   e. Arterioles—which are the main control of vascular resistance,        distal to the band are fully dilated.

At high belt pressures, deep veins are temporarily obstructed untilmuscle contraction moves blood in the deep veins out of the extremity.When that happens, blood from the arterial side fills back into theextremity. Under these circumstances arterial inflow waxes and wanesdepending on the frequency of muscle contraction emptying the deepveins, making more room for fresh, oxygenated, arterial blood. At lowerpressures, arterial inflow is not reduced at all, but at higher andhigher pressures, due to the inability to overcome the deep venousobstruction and the pressure itself, arterial inflow is reduced, but noteliminated.

Changes in the Circulation have the following effects:

-   -   1. By Impeding and modulating blood flow in a certain manner        causes;        -   i. Angiogenesis—Due to the effects on the vasculature, NO            release, the distension of the capillaries and veins and            periodic flushing and emptying of the deep veins, all work            to stimulate release of an angiogenic cascade documented by            increases in circulating VEGF, and m RNA for various            angiogenic factors.        -   ii. This reduced and modulated blood flow is inadequate to            recover the active muscle from otherwise easy, sustainable            efforts. A Disturbance of Homeostasis in Active Muscle            (primarily, consisting of a decrease pH, decrease pO2,            increased lactate concentrations and deplete intracellular            phosphates ATP/CP, increase concentrations of Pi, ADP and            AMP, altered electrolyte concentrations) ensues as the            initial fibers recruited are unable to maintain their work            rate.        -   iii. This Disturbance of Homeostasis causes initially            recruited fibers (primarily fatigue resistant, type I            fibers) to fail to produce the necessary force, so that            additional larger motor units (with more easily fatigable            Type II fibers) are recruited to perform the work. In turn,            these Type II fibers become quickly fatigued as their pH and            pO2 decrease and their intracellular phosphate stores are            depleted and are unable to be replenished.    -   2. Metabolites from the Disturbance of Homeostasis, accompanied        by an anabolic hormonal milieu, stimulate an increase in local        protein synthesis in all motor units that were recruited and        contracted, via the mTOR pathway.    -   3. The Disturbance of Homeostasis is also communicated via        unmyelinated Group III and IV afferent fibers connected to        metaboreceptors and nociceptors, to the CNS and is perceived as        “burning”, “fatigue”, or “discomfort” in the active muscle. The        CNS also, increases sympathetic tone and releases an anabolic        hormone cascade as noted by a robust increase in circulating        growth hormone (GH). The increase in sympathetic tone, increases        ventilation and heart rate. The GH release initiates an anabolic        cascade, resulting in IGF-1. The anabolic hormone cascade also        binds to anabolic cell surface receptors that have been        up-regulated in active tissues, facilitating the local        stimulation of increasing protein synthesis.

Exercise choice and protocol. There is good reason for the specificprotocol of exercises to make the BFR session efficacious. We choose aseries of exercises that utilize all muscle groups distal the belt, aswell as, muscle groups proximal to the belt. We have a sequence of 3sets of 30 repetitions separated by 30 second “rest” periods for eachexercise. Typically, the person can perform the first 30 repetitionswith minimal feelings of fatigue or only during the last fewrepetitions. Then there is a 30 second “rest” period where, if properlyadjusted, the circulation slows down even more since venous blood doesnot have the force of muscle contraction to pump blood back into thecentral circulation and blood flow slows considerably and may stop. Thisfurther reduces the ability of the muscle to recover and normalize pO2and pH. The intracellular muscle fiber milieu deteriorates ashomeostatic conditions are lost. Then the second set of exercisecommences. On one hand the circulation is improved, but the exercise isnow being carried out by fibers with little 02, a low pH and a disturbedmilieu. Contraction in those initial fibers fails, now other motor unitsmust be recruited to produce the necessary force. Their milieu isdisturbed even sooner and this disturbance of homeostasis is beingcommunicated to the CNS. Another 30 second “rest” period ensues wherethe circulation is further reduced and cellular milieu of active motorunits, further deteriorates. Now a third set of repetitions is performedutilizing fibers with very disturbed homeostasis. Failure of contractionhappens quickly. Other motor units in the muscle are recruited toproduce the necessary force and they begin to fail, partially becausethe low pO2 and low pH produced by initial motor units diffuses into thelater recruited fibers, and partially, because these fibers are rarelyrecruited and are very glycolytic, rapidly contributing to a milieuinhibiting muscle contraction. Contraction failure of virtually allmotor units in the muscle ensues. A robust signal of “failure” is sentto the CNS and the CNS reacts by secretion of an anabolic hormonalcascade.

Taken together, when one performs relatively easy exercise with musclesthat have restricted, inadequate blood flow to sustain the work, adisturbance of homeostasis in the muscle ensues, prompting recruitmentof additional fibers and ultimately resulting in muscle contractionfailure. This “failure of contraction” stimulates local proteinsynthesis for repair and adaptation, as well as, initiating a systemicresponse from the CNS to repair and adapt working tissues.

Since the absolute workloads are light, they caused minimal damage toworking muscle and much less damage than is normally associated withmuscle contraction failure, thus, improvement in function occurs morerapidly than when damage must first be repaired.

While previously filed applications describe the concepts involved inBFR training, they do not address what is physically happening with thehuman body when the tightening tool is applied. More specifically, theydo not address the anatomy of the human, the goal of the tighteningtool, and what happens to the body when the tightening tool is applied,and the ramifications this has on the effect of the tool and comfort forthe user. In regards to the tightening tool, they neglect to discuss thecontributing factors to overall limb compression which is a combinationof the shape and geometry of the tightening tool where it contacts theskin, as well as the tension applied via tightening, air pressure, or acombination of the two. For example, Sato discusses the desire to havenormal arterial flow for safety reasons, but neglects to discuss thatwhat is actually happening for the mechanism to work, and how the venoussystem is actually restricted in implementation. Arteries run deep inthe body, but veins are both superficial, on the limb surface, and deepin the deep venous system. As the applicant will describe, this hasramifications as to the effectiveness of various belt, or tighteningtool, designs and the impact therein on level of comfort andeffectiveness. Specifically, the applicant will disclose designs thatmay target a portion of the circumference of a predetermined targetrange for compression, without compressing the entire circumference. Bycompressing only a portion of the circumference, the overall discomfortand feeling of constriction is reduced, yet sufficient venousrestriction is obtained, as but one example.

What happens when the tightening tool, or hereinafter referred to as“belt”, “band”, “inflatable belt”, “inflatable belt” etc., is placed onthe body, is a certain amount of tissue is compressed inward.Superficial veins are closed off, depending on the level of compression,and tissue is pushed radially inward. This compression level that isfelt by the user is a combination of the amount of surface area the beltcontacts the limb, and the pressure in the belt in case of a pneumaticbelt, or the belt tension in the case of a non-pneumatic belt, and theconstruction of the belt itself and shape the bladder forms underpressure. Because tissue is incompressible, there is no place for it togo (minimal amounts of tissue squishes out to the sides) and thus, theonly “give” in the system is that some fluid displaces to the sides ofthe bands, and the veins, and eventually the arteries collapse andeither partially or fully close off. This explanation is neglected inprevious patent applications, leading one to surmise that the inventorsdid not fully understand what was happening inside the targeted limbwith the tissue displacement and fluid shifts. As will be disclosed,what is essential in the end then, is only to cause enough displacementin the correct areas on the human body, i.e, where veins are presentsuperficially or in the deep system, as to achieve the required level ofBFR, and to do so in a way that spreads the loading and keeps changes inoverall perceived and actual compression levels to a minimum. As anexample, the human anatomy is such that the deep veins in the arms andlegs may be compressed by applying pressure, to displace tissue inwardson the underside of the arm, and the inside, or groin area of the leg.While all previously disclosed bands have been of rectangular shape andfully encompassing the limbs, these rub over various muscle groups(biceps, hip flexor, etc) causing discomfort, cramping, and pain, whenin reality these areas do not have any veins under them and do notrequire heavy compression. Therefore bladder size, and shape overall ofthe band, can be optimized to reduce compression in certain places thatundergo rubbing over a muscle during movement, the band thinned out overthese areas, as will be disclosed below. Understanding the fullphysiology and anatomy therefore is critical to designing a system thatis comfortable, easy to use, and most economical to produce.

Sato also fails to adequately provide a means for applying a consistentstarting belt tension by a novice, which further limits mass adoption.The starting belt tension is a critical aspect to the function andoverall compression level that is set and an inability to properly,simply, and repeatedly measure this limits widespread adoption, or canbe unsafe. Sato routinely discusses the technique needing to be appliedby an expert, however this introduces a large barrier to adoption asSato himself admits. The company, KAATSU, provides guidelines forsetting a base belt tension via measuring a pressure once the belt isplaced on the arms, but this process is cumbersome in that it requiresthe user to put on the belt, measure a pressure, then take off the beltto adjust, re-measure, etc. The applicant's locking system and pressuremeasuring sequence options have solved these issues in a way that isprescriptive based on a user's limb girth.

Various patent applications by two inventors, Sato and Wasowski, havebeen issued on the devices, apparatus, and methods used to implement BFRtraining, and various other methods have been published in researchpapers as discussed. It will be shown how there are yet manyimprovements to be made both on the apparatus, system and method ofapplication to promote widespread adoption, in the areas of costeffectiveness; comfort, and ease of use, Both inventors describe intheir applications the importance of reduce the cost of the system (SatoU.S. Pat. No. 8,992,397), improving the comfort level (Wosowski8273114), and make the system easy and safe to use, together with aninstructor or by oneself (Sato U.S. Pat. No. 8,992,397), as theprinciple barriers to mass adoption, and it is the aim of the applicantto solve these deficiencies in existing product and disclosedembodiments.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,273,114, 8,273,114 to Wosowski describes a full bodysuit with the addition of cooling, electrical grounding, and a varietyof other features. Wosowski's invention appears to be a variation ofSato's designs, but is significantly more costly and difficult to use.Further Wosowski does not go into any further detail on the blood flowrestriction means other than to say they are like ordinary bloodpressure cuffs. Ordinary blood pressure cuffs are inelastic and cover asubstantial length of the limb, encompassing the bulk of the muscle thatis to be expanded during contraction and exercise. In practice, a verywide inelastic cuff around the full circumference, as described byWosowski, is extremely uncomfortable and even painful because the musclehas no room to expand when contracted. Wosowski therefore fails tocontemplate a simple, cheap, affordable, safe, easy to use design forbands or belts for performing BFR training as will be described by theapplicant.

U.S. Pat. No. 36,149,618. U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,618 to Sato is theoriginal application on the subject of BFR and describes a simple,non-inflatable belt concept and generic method of using the band toperform the BFR method, or KAATSU Training 1M method. Sato describes asimple band, or rope, made of elastic material, for wrapping around thebody as a tightening tool, as well as a band or belt made of inelasticmaterial with spring inserted and indication means to telling whattension is applied. Sato neglects to realize that in the case of such abelt, the belt tension will not be even around the surface of the limbdue to varying friction around the circumference, so measuring a tensionin such a way is inadequate. Sato appears to have not yet conceived ofthe method of using air pressure when coming up with this concept andthus there are no features in the design related to making anair-bladder based system function comfortably, effectively, and cheap tomake. Sato correctly notes the importance of the tightening tool to havesome elastic element and some method of knowing what the compressionforce is that is applied to the body. While Sato discloses a liner forthe belt, Sato only recognizes the importance to protect the user's skinfrom abrasion. However, Sato's belt will thin in width as it is pulledand may cut into the skin, and Sato fails to note the need for a loadspreading mechanism, which greatly improves the comfort of a pneumaticsystem and simultaneously avoids pinching of the skin. Sato, in U.S.Pat. No. 8,992,397, notes the economical nature of this construction,and the importance thereof, however Sato's following patents are allutilizing a pneumatic adjustment, as is the KAATSU equipment currentlyon the market, and thus Sato has acknowledged the superiority of apneumatic system for adjustability, precision, safety, and efficacystandpoint. This is likely because such a construction as described inU.S. Pat. No. 6,149,618 would be cumbersome for a user to try to adjustby make small adjustments in the locked circumference, vs, locking acircumference and adding small amounts of air pressure, In trying toachieve a specific tension, the adjustments would be very small anddifficult to read or accurately achieve with the type of system andscale Sato presents. Therefore, as an initial tension setting mechanism,this concept is not very practical. Sato, and Wosowski both for thatmatter, correctly recognize the superiority of a pneumatic system.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,527. Sato then advanced to U.S. Pat. No. 7,413,527,in which he improved upon the simplistic band design with an inflatablebelt design. Sato also mentions another deficiency of U.S. Pat. No.6,149,618, which is that Sato's design in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,618rotates around the limb when a user attempts to tighten it bythemselves, which would further make setting an initial tension verydifficult. This is a problem with U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,618 because forthat device to function, significant compression must be applied by theband itself, initially, to achieve the required levels of compression,further exacerbating the problem of setting the initial tensionaccurately and repeatedly. This rotation therefore renders the designvery difficult to use by an individual, further limiting adoption asstated by Sato in later applications. However, Sato's solution in U.S.Pat. No. 7,413,527 is to add multiple additional belt members whichfurther complicates the sewing process, adds materials, bulk, and costto the system. The applicant will disclose how adding frictionalfeatures to the band helps to adhere to the user's limb, and in additionto removing the need to apply high initial tension, will ameliorate theproblem of rotation of the band style in 61/149,618. Sato aimed toresolve the problem of lack of precision and easy adjustment by creatinga tube that slips inside a hollow bag, the bag formed by sewing twopieces of fabric together, both of which are elastic. Sato furtherdescribes the tube being replaceable and a clip being used to fold overand limit the length of the inflatable tube. However, such suggestedconstruction of stuffing a tube into a hollow bag for each applicationor each individual user is impractical and a barrier to ease of use,where Sato has described himself that ease of use of the band is acritical factor toward the utility of BFR. Sato further discusses aboutthe need for the clip such as to eliminate a gap between the muscles atthe overlap point and provide full circumference compression. Thisfurther shows that Sato does not fully understand what is happeninginside the limb and where it is important to apply pressure, and whythis clip and limiting features is not necessary. Sato further discussesa deficiency in the design such that a limiting piece, such as a plate,or wire, is necessary to prevent expansion of the tube in the radiallyoutward direction, similar to what happens when inflating an inner tube.Sato specifically states that the main belt has a predeterminedelasticity, as do current KAATSU products. This benefits in expandingslightly during muscle contraction, but forces inclusion of the limiterplate to prevent radially outward expansion, and thus adds parts,complexity, and cost into the design. Sato describes modifying theconstruction of the tube itself so that it may inflate more toward theinside than the outside, however Sato is still stuck on the idea thatthere is a main band around the tube, and that all components, and thetube as specifically stated, are elastic, further necessitating alimiter plate. Sato describes two strip shaped elastic bodies havingdifferent spring rates, but by virtue of them both being elastic, therewill be radially outward expansion and thus, a requirement foradditional hardware to maintain required compression. In fact, Satonever addresses the need to determine initial compression of theinflatable system, and further does not discuss the by-product of higherinitial compressions as a detriment to the comfort; and decreasedsafety, of Sato's designs. High initial compression results indiscomfort because there is always some degree of restriction and whenthere are metabolites and lactic acid built up, there is not enough flowto relieve that pain, even at rest, so there is a constant discomfortnot easily tolerated by many people. In failing to address the initialcompression guidelines, or design elements, Sato has optimized theinflation scheme as it relates to comfort of the user. As describedabove, a tight band is uncomfortable, and without a large air cushion,the muscle is further in contact with the harder, stiffer main band Satodescribes when the muscle contracts. This puts higher stress on themuscle and can lead to pain, cramping and discontinuing use. Theapplicant has witnessed such effects first hand with current KAATSUequipment where the hip flexor muscle feels it was hit with a hardobject from this compression point loading, and rubbing, Similar effectsof nerve impingement on the arm were felt and pain lasted for severaldays. It is an aim of the applicant to solve this problem by spacing theinflatable bladder off the limb by a sufficient amount that it mayinflate inward to form a large air cushion, further assisted by a bodyinterfacing component that spreads the load on the limb.

Overall, Sato fails to recognize that the construction of his band hasunnecessary components in it, and that sufficient, radially inward, morecomfortable, and easier to apply, compression, can be achieved withproper construction techniques and selection of materials as will bedisclosed by the present inventor. By stating that economics areimportant, yet including unnecessary components in the main bandconstruction in this application and in now-current product sales, Satounnecessarily complicates the design, driving up manufacturing costs,and increasing the price to the end customer, and shows that he has notcontemplated a simpler more efficient design like that disclosed by theapplication.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,630. Sato then moved to U.S. Pat. No. 7,455,630wherein he depicts a simplified BFR system consisting of a manual analogvalve readout, and manual squeeze ball inflation means. However, ratherthan expanding on a full system that would be cheap and effective toimplement, Sato continues to invent around methods of limiting theinflation toward the user's limb with complicated limiting platedesigns. Sato seems to have come to the conclusion that the limitingplate is a key feature, (as it currently exists in the product as well),and is therefore focusing on adding components to the design, ratherthan rethinking the design to eliminate parts and make the constructionmore efficient, yet just as effective, as the current inventor hasconceived. Sato further discusses the need to provide even compressionaround the entire limb with a complicated limiter plate design thatbends and contours. However the limiter plate is not in contact with theskin, the air bladder is, and the air pressure, and presumably theprofile of the bladder in contact with the skin in the bladder isuniform therefore the compression will be about the same. This is yetanother confirmation that Sato does not fully understand the physics ofwhat is happening with the band, and what is needed to achieve theproper level of venous restriction. As stated above, but restated here,the applicant's invention of a spacing method to space the air bladder,or gas bladder off the limb, thereby providing a large inflation volume,more uniform contouring of the bladder to the limb, which has thesignificant effect to improve comfort.

Part of this is evidenced by applying a KAATSU band and band ofapplicant's invention on the same location and doing a musclecontraction and measuring the pressure. In the KAATSU belt, placedaround the quadriceps, the pressure in the belt rose from initially 350to 420 mmHg. In the applicant's belt design the pressure rose frominitially 350 to a maximum of 380 mmHg. This reduction in spikes inpressure, and correspondingly in compression due to substantialmaintenance of the band/limb junction profile, during musclecontraction, means that the muscle is seeing less force overall andtherefore is not getting cycling “pounding” during movement on eachcontraction from the applicant's band as it is with the KAATSU band Inexperiments, the KAATSU belts became too painful during a dynamictraining session that the subject had to discontinue the training,whereas the subject could complete a BFR training session with theapplicant's band to achieve muscle “failure”, vs bruising or crampingsensation. Despite the fact that the limiter plate is not necessary,Sato further does not describe any elastic characteristic of the limiterplate; in fact he contemplates it as inelastic. Thus because the limiterplate is coupled to the main belt, and encompasses the limb, the mainbelt will be prevented from expanding under muscle contraction, furtherexacerbating the pressure and pain on the muscle and causing higherpressure spikes in the band under muscle contraction. All in all, U.S.Pat. No. 7,455,639 to Sato has the same deficiencies as U.S. Pat. No.7,413,527, and further reinforces Sato has not contemplated thesimplifying elements of the applicant's invention.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,021,283 & U.S. Pat. No. 8,328,693. Realizing thedifficulty in facilitating widespread adoption based on significantexpertise and knowledge of the body, Sato further continued to inventalong the lines of automation and sensing to make KAATSU Training safefor any person. U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,021,283 and 8,328,693 to Satoprincipally focus on these automation aspects, assuming band designs asdiscussed prior. In fact, Sato even discusses the inadequacy of justmeasuring pressure because of physiological changes during the workout,for example the increase in limb circumference from doing work duringKAATSU Training, and Sato's belt designs inadequacy of dealing withthese expansions to keep a more constant compression level on the limb.Sato further reinforces the need for accurate, more constant pressurecontrol, so it is significant that Sato's band designs result in highpressure spikes during muscle contraction compared with the applicant'sinvention. Sato does not even address the ability of the band designitself to maintain more-constant pressure by providing a larger volumefor example, presumably because Sato does not recognize the significanceof improving upon such feature, and the ramifications thereof inrelation to comfort for the user. Whereas the applicant's invention isoptimized to maintain a certain compression level on the limb byachieving a larger air volume and maintaining a specific contact profilewith a limb, than Sato's designs for a given desired compression, Sato'sbands encompass relative little air as the inflatable portion is resteddirectly against the skin to begin with, and therefore less volume intowhich the bands can expand before compressing the limb. Because there isless air, any change in limb circumference will proportionally correlateto a larger % of displaced volume in the gas bag, and a largerdeformation of the bag itself which will also alter to overall limbcompression level, This large percent displacement was observed as ahigh pressure spike, and overly large percentage increase in pressureover time during a KAATSU Training session, which further restrictsflow, potentially beyond a safe level. The applicant's inventions, whichallow for a large air volume, and less deformation of the bladder shapeduring a muscle contraction, act as an accumulator and increases in limbcircumference during training have less of an effect on the increase inband pressure, and overall compression level on the limb, because thedisplacement represents a smaller proportion compared to the totalvolume of air in the bands.

Sato, in discussing the safety aspects and need to avoiding a situationwhere full occlusion of the venous system is achieved, fails torecognize that his system may start a session in a safe zone, but then,as the limb engorges in blood and expands, the level of restriction maybecome unsafe because the pressure in the bands has risen significantly.Sato describes a disconnect option, as do current KAATSU products, andthus by disconnection from the control equipment, a user is potentiallygiven a false sense of security that they are still safe whendisconnected from the monitoring and adjustment equipment. This all goesto point out that the design of the bands is critical, and a designwhich minimizes pressure increases during a training session, asdisclosed by the applicant, is a safer inherent design.

One final note is that while Sato argues for a fully automated system,the applicant argues for a hybrid system with a manual inflation meansand automated pressure control. The significance is that if there is aproblem, the safety procedure is always to reduce pressure and restorenormal conditions, which both Sato and the applicant agree on. Howeverin Sato's automated system, the machine can potentially continue to workand prolong the unsafe condition, whereas a re-inflation action isrequired to be performed by a human in the applicant's system, and thehuman can assess many more variables in the situation better than Sato'smachine, in deciding whether to continue or not.

Relating to bands, Sato does disclose another configuration of a gasbladder, or bag, plus belt combination by stating the gas bag may be onor in the belt. Prior, the gas bag is only described as being in thebelt. However, Sato does not go into detail on how exactly this works,and it is left to believe that the gas bladder is a separate item thatis permanently attached to the belt, and thus still incorporating morecomponents, and manufacturing processes than the applicant's inventions.Sato further fails to describe a “doubling back” band, such as disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,618, further confirming that Sato has discardedsuch design as non-preferable and too difficult to use by the userbecause of the rotational issues, which the applicant has solved. Satofurther states the importance of being able to utilize the system forlonger periods of time, saying that the technique of restricting bloodflow is improved with longer durations. Therefore, this furtherreinforces the importance of band comfort during training, and the valueof the applicant's inventions in improving comfort such that a user maysustain restricted flow for a longer period than with KAATSU equipment,because the comfort level is better. Sato further describes the belt asbeing elastic, neoprene rubber, which, as Sato has previously stated,requires a limiting plate in order to provide sufficient restriction.Thus, Sato's designs have not significantly changed from priorapplications, and still remain expensive to build and cumbersome to use.

The focus of U.S. Pat. No. 8,021,283 is around automation and sensingand creating a system that the user does not have to think much about.Sato's design provides various drawbacks and could be improved as theapplicant will disclose. In discussing the pressure setting means, Satodefines the pressure setting means as being able to both provide andremove pressure from the belts. This further differs from theapplicant's provision for a manual inflation means, electromechanicalvalve, and belts as the basic elements in a blood flow restrictionsystem. By removing the need for an electrical pump, which is what Satodescribes, the system can be greatly simplified in terms of cost,electricity requirements, weight, noise, and speed of inflation. Allthese are significant drawbacks in the usability of the system and abarrier to widespread adoption. Sato fails to conceive of a system thatoptimizes the benefits and tradeoffs of an all electrical system withone that is a hybrid. A manual inflation means is faster to inflate thebelts. Current KAATSU products employ small pumps, which takesignificant time to fill the belts with air, up to 5× slower than theapplicant's suggested hand pump based system. Time is critical to theuser, and in fact of the two models KAATSU offers, a main sales argumentpurported by KAATSU is that the larger more expensive system inflatesfaster and reduces waiting time. Therefore, an inflation means that isfaster than what Sato describes is beneficial. While Sato could uselarger pumps, this increases cost, weight, bulk, and reduces portabilitywhich are all significant drawbacks. KAATSU is further touted as beingportable, lightweight, and carry anywhere, thus the ability to eliminatelarge batteries, and heavy pumps and electronics (as seen on thewww.kaatsu-global.com website for the Master and Nano products), is offurther benefit.

Continuing, the pumps represent the main reliability failure point, andcost for the system, thus being able to eliminate them by using a manualinflation means, further has benefit in making the blood flowrestriction system cheaper, and more reliable. Using pumps also drainsthe battery, and as KAATSU is in part meant for travel purposes, nothaving to carry a bulky charging cable, or go search for a power outletis of further benefit in eliminating the pumps, Finally, KAATSU, as seenon the website, is further touted as applicable for use in theworkplace, however pumps are noisy and not suitable for a workenvironment. While sound proofing could be added, this would further addunnecessary cost and complexity and potentially lead to overheating andfurther reliability issues. Finally, a manual inflation system asdisclosed by the applicant requires the user to use some muscles to pumpair into the valves. In particular, in a cycle function as disclosedherein, such movement is repeated and helps serve as a warmup for theBFR training, Sato in later applications discloses the importance of awarmup, but does so purely in the frame of a system exercising thevasculature and not requiring any movement or muscle activation by theuser. The applicant's invention for a blood flow restriction systemrequires the user to perform simple warmup exercises of squeezing anelastic squeeze ball to pump up the bands, thereby getting some bloodflowing. The applicant has further shown that muscle contractionssqueeze blood past an extremity and prevent a state of completelyoccluded blood flow for a long period of time which could be dangerous.

In fact, KAATSU Training teaches an exercise that is very similar indoing hand grip motions, but only teaches doing this exercise AFTER thebands have been pressurized, not prior to or during the pressurizationprocess. Doing such exercises to pump up the bands saves time in thelong run as one set of recommended exercises is done simultaneously withthe inflation or warmup cycling in the applicant's disclosed systems andmethods, versus done serially according to KAATSU Training protocols.For all these reasons, a hybrid system, as disclosed in the applicant'sinventions, which utilizes manual inflation means with electromechanicalpressure control means is a more effective and safer solution overall.Finally, Sato discusses use and placement of a number of sensors toimprove the safety of KAATSU Training, and deficiencies related to thesesensors may be discussed in further applications by the presentinventors.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,992,397. In U.S. Pat. No. 8,992,397 to Sato, Sato comesback to the band design as a critical element to improve and reiterates,and further reveals, significant shortcomings of his previousinventions. Sato recognizes the superiority of a pneumatic system inimproving the safety and pressure adjustment capabilities during setupand in the middle of a training session, but acknowledges the complexityin the design as a detriment to a pneumatic system versus a simpleelastic band. Sato fails to recognize a design that is both simple andinexpensive to construct, and incorporates, and improves, the benefitsof using pneumatics to apply pressure to the user. Sato describes twoband structures, a straight type, and an overlap type, and how they havea significant drawback of rotating on the user's arm when trying toapply initial tension. Because of Sato's band design, and the lack of ameans to stand the band off the skin surface, the initial tension of asubstantial degree is required to provide enough starting compression toobtain a sufficient overall compression level on the limb. In additionto solving the rotational problem, the applicant's invention does notrequire strong initial tension to achieve the required limb compressionand therefore eliminates the rotational issues, while maintaining asimple construction. Sato further describes an overlap type of having adetriment that the ring employed, may cover a muscle region duringrotation and cause discomfort the user, thereby further acknowledgingthe critical nature of user comfort in the application. Because theapplicants design does not require significant initial tension thedisplacement of the ring is not a problem. Further, the band mayadditionally be adjusted circumferentially after the fact as needed.Further still, Sato describes the gas bag as being divided into twochambers by the ring and the pressures in the band not be controllable,however Sato therein, assumes that the circumference of the inflatablebladder must be longer than the limb circumference, causing the bladderto move through and wrap around the ring. In the applications designs,and as described prior relating to understanding the physics of what ishappening in the limb, the bladder does not need to be the full lengthof the limb. Additionally, failing to state that the bladders may bedetachable, shows that Sato considers the gas bag/bladder to bepermanently fixed to the band, which is further counter to anotherembodiment of the applicant's invention for a detachable gas bladderwhich and be changed out for various length bladders sizes for eachlimb.

Sato continues to state and discuss the concept of a belt plus a bag,therefore continuing to reinforce he has not contemplated a similarconstruction like the applicant is disclosing. Likewise, Sato continuesto describe the nature of the compression force applied as necessarily100% around the circumference, and evenly distributed, which againcontinues to reinforce that he does not truly understand the physics ofwhat is happening, or contemplate other methods of targeting compressionzones. Finally, Sato explicitly states the potential problem ofexcessive compression on the muscle during contraction and how this canlead to safety concerns, and therein cements the idea that pressurespikes and large changes in overall compression are to be avoided.Sato's suggestion for how to remedy this is to make the belt material(in addition to the gas bag) elastic, however, as Sato has previouslydisclosed in prior patents, this necessitates a limiter plater andincreases the cost and complexity. Sato's principle invention thereforeis the addition of a second strap on the band to be grabbed by theuser's other hand, to help avoid rotation and properly position theband. However, this is just adding yet more components to the solutioninstead of solving the underlying problems, in this case rotation andthe need to apply significant initial tension. As a note, Sato doesdescribe a thin inner fabric, but discusses this only in the context ofcreating a soft surface interface between the user and the belt, not asa standoff mechanism. KAATSU's recommended guidelines actually suggestapplying the bands over clothing (presumably to prevent pinching of theskin, and thus this design element is really not necessary. Moreimportantly, it is clear that this inner fabric is not intended to be aspacer or load distribution mechanism as is described by the applicant.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,182,403 & US2015/0150560A1. Sato continues to improveand perfect his KAATSU Training method in U.S. Pat. No. 8,182,403 toSato and pending application US2015/0150560A1, however theseapplications offer nothing new in terms of band design, and continue touse the same language and concepts around a bag plus a belt, elasticitywhich requires limiting members, and precision of pressure control,which is inherently better in the applicant's invention. The patentmainly describes other methods of implementation and using automatedcycling of the pressure as a warmup for the user to reduce the chance ofocclusion when higher pressures are used. Sato explains that withoutcycling, a certain lower pressure will lead to occlusion than withcycling, and that a higher pressure is more optimal in terms of effectof the technique. In relation to the blood flow restriction systemitself, the system of Sato is substantially the same as previouslydescribed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,021,283 & 8,328,693, and therefore theshortcomings of a full automated system, when compared with a manualinflation plus electromechanical pressure control system, are likewisesimilar to previously laid out. However, Sato offers yet anotherimportant comment that further supports the fact that, while he hasinvented a useful technique with supporting hardware, he still fails tounderstand the interplay of the human physiology and how it relates tothe design of the belts themselves. Sato describes in detail how cyclingof the pressures between a minimum and maximum value, and doing so priorto training serves as a valuable warmup and preventive measure againstover compression and venous occlusion. Sato further lays out specificpressure ranges and discusses minimum step increments of 30 mm Hg.However, not once does Sato mention the importance of band design, andin particular the width, and its effect on the various pressure levels.In fact, a wider cuff, when inflated to a given pressure, will displacea larger amount of tissue on the limb than a narrow band, and thereforelead to occlusion at lower pressures, even lower than what Sato hasrecommended. Similarly, minimum steps would need to be adjusteddownwards for wider belts. Because Sato does not discuss this aspect atall, one is led to believe that he doesn't understand the ramificationsof the specific band design, and in particular the width, as it relatesto what is going on in the limb. This further evidenced by Sato'sdiscussion of the upper range or pressures to which to cycle being equalto systolic pressure for the arms, and systolic +20 mm Hg for the legs,however Sato fails to give any guidance as to how these numbers shouldbe varied based on the band design or user body type. It is thereforebeneficial, as the applicant will show, to have a band design thatinherently makes it difficult to reach occlusion pressures during BFRtraining, and reduces the need for a cycling, or warmup phase, as acountermeasure to occlusion at sub-optimal pressures. Further still, theapplicant's manual inflation means not only reduces the cost andcomplexity, but forces the user to do muscle contractions that squeezesome blood past the obstruction, and itself serves as a warmup asprevious stated, rendering an automated cycling process less efficient.Finally, Sato continues to reinforce the key aspects of the band design,that the band outer piece should be elastic, necessitating a limiterplate, and that the pneumatic bag be a separate piece attached to theband and approximately equal to the circumference of the limb.

In relation to the issue of comfort, which Sato and Wosowski both deemof critical importance, Sato also fails to recognize that the banddesign he sets forth will result in kinking, and that these kinks willreduce the uniform compression Sato says is important, but even moreimportantly, that these kinks will pinch the user's skin. This issue isdiscussed in prior art in relation to occlusive cuffs, and the applicanthas witnessed such effects first hand. As the pressures are increasedthis pinch can be quite painful on sensitive surfaces like the inner armor inner thigh. The application will provide several ways to overcomethis issue in the course of this specification.

It is worth pointing out again that the design of the belt andunderstanding the physics of what is happening is critical to providingan effective, yet comfortable BFR experience. By reducing pressurespikes and maintaining conformance between the bladder and the limb, itis also safer, as Sato describes. Sato's efforts to combat this problemwere purported to be solved by adding active control means to the systembut this has multiple downsides. To start, pressure is not the ultimatemeasure of compression on the limb, it is only a contributing factor.For example, if a bladder was very loosely placed around a limb, itcould be inflated to 500 mmhg and potentially barely compress the limb.This starting tension is a critical measure. Similarly, if the bladderhas very small diameter, it will reach maximum expansion quickly as itforms an annulus, and further pressure will increase the tension in thewalls but not put much additional compression on the limb. Additionally,active control means tethering the user to the pressure control system,and thus preventing them from doing dynamic movements, which is animportant aspect taught in KAATSU Training. Secondly, the musclecontractions would squeeze out a significant amount of air during asingle contraction, and the pumps employed in KAATSU equipment are notstrong enough to re-inflate the bands in time to prepare for the nextcontraction. Significantly larger pumps would be required, therebyexacerbating the stated arguments of why electromechanical pumps arebad. The applicant's inflatable belt designs have been shown to keep thepressure in the inflatable belts at a more constant level than Sato'sdesigns, and in addition, by forming a larger volume, keep a moreconstant profile against the limb, and thus all such problems related topressure regulation have been substantially reduced by the applicant'sinventions.

Accordingly, besides the objects and advantages of an inflatable beltfor use in a blood flow restriction system described in thisspecification, several objects and advantages of the present inventionare:

-   -   a) to provide an inflatable belt that is simple and cheap to        build    -   b) to provide an inflatable belt that is designed to improve the        comfort for the user    -   c) to provide an inflatable belt that distributes the        compression load onto the user's body in a more even manner to        improve the comfort for the user    -   d) to provide an inflatable belt that minimizes pressure spikes        in the belt during a muscle contraction    -   e) to provide an inflatable belt that is easy for a single        person to don and remove    -   f) to provide an inflatable belt that is compact and easy to        transport    -   g) to provide an inflatable belt that works for a range of user        body types    -   h) to provide indicating means in the inflatable belt        construction for making donning the belt simple and without        requiring thinking or fine adjustments by the user    -   i) to provide a countermeasure to rotation when putting an        inflatable belt on one's own body    -   j) to provide a means of limiting pressures in an inflatable        belt to ensure that uneducated user's cannot use the inflatable        belt unsafely    -   k) to provide a pre-inflated belt that does not require        connection or inclusion of an inflation means, yet provides the        benefit of the inflatable concepts    -   l) to provide a countermeasure to kinking of the inflatable belt        and pinching of the user's skin    -   m) To optimize the target compression range on a limb for a        targeting inflatable belt for performing BFR, wherein the        compression region is only so large as to sufficiently compress        necessary blood vessels, but does not encompass the entire limb,        or overlap key problematic muscles such as the hip flexor or        tricep    -   n) To provide a modular, replaceable, individually customizable        bladder design that can be attached and removed from the        inflatable belt assembly.    -   o) To provide a fully molded inflatable belt that incorporates        sufficient features and dimensions to hold its location on the        user's body, yet provide sufficient compression to accomplish        the desired BFR effect.    -   p) To provide a preset relief and manual relief mechanism in        combination into a single component for use in a BFR band in        order to reduce part count and manufacturing costs, and the        preset relief may or may not be adjustable    -   q) To provide an electromechanical blood flow restriction system        that comprises a manual inflation means instead of an        electromechanical inflation means in order to reduce the bulk,        cost, battery requirements, charging lifetime, charging time,        reliability risk, and risk that the system continues if the user        experiences a problem, and for the electromechanical blood flow        restriction system to allow for substantially all the same        functionalities and benefits as a fully automated system.    -   r) To provide a prescription system for simply applying the        proper belt tension to one's body without prior experience.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

DRAWINGS - REFERENCE NUMERALS 90 - User 100 - inflatable belt 101 -inner belt material 102 - outer belt material 103 - gas bladder(assembly) 104 - input port 105 - belt fastening means 106 - inflationmeans 107 - belt valve 108 - gas flow shutoff means 109 - airflow 110 -first fastening means 111 - second fastening means 112 - ratchet stylemechanism 113 - cam-lock style mechanism 114 - belt spring 115 - loopcoupler 116 - blood flow restriction system 117 - pressure limitingvalve 118 - adjustable release valve 119 - gas hose 120 - valve coupling121 - belt tension strap 122 - teeth 130 - handle 131 - edging 139 -overlap length 200 - body interfacing component 201 - friction surface300 - targeting inflatable belt 301 - target compression zone 302 -compression relief zone 400 - modular inflatable belt 401 - detachablegas bladder 402 - inner belt surface 402 - bladder limiting clip 501 -inner molded bladder 502 - outer bladder surface 503 - anit-roll feature700 - pre-inflated belt 701 - inflatable chamber 702 - tensioning means703 - pressure readout 800 - pressure relief valve combo 801 - manualrelief mechanism 802 - pressure relief mechanism 803 - spring 804 -manual relief plunger 805 - pressure relief plunger 806 - adjustment cap807 - pressure relieve valve body 808 - hose barb 809 - one-way valve810 - o-ring 900 - Electromechanical blood flow restriction system 901 -electromechanical valve 902 - pressure sensing means 903 -microprocessor 1400 - adjustable distance measuring and positive lockingsystem 1401 - non-inflated belt 1402 - distance indicator 1403 -positive lock adjustment 1404 - positive locking means

Preferred Embodiment—Description. A preferred embodiment of aninflatable belt 100 for use in a BFR system is shown in FIG. 1K. Theinflatable belt 100 is comprised of an outer belt material 102 which issubstantially inelastic, such as single or double side urethane coatedballistic nylon of 800 denier. Such class of material is commonlyreferred to in the fabrics world as non-stretch, and where the terminelastic is used in this application, the reader shall understand theapplicant's intent is to refer to this non-stretch class of material.The reader shall further understand that non-stretch fabric isunderstood in the industry to have certain characteristics regardingstretch, such as in the warp and fill directions, and other materialswhich may not necessarily be considered fabrics, but that have similarnon-stretch properties shall also be considered “non-stretch” or“inelastic” within the context of this application. The reader shallunderstand that material properties of the belt may be changed to alterthe elastic compressive response as described in the operation sectionof the preferred embodiment. For example, a stiffer material may providea harder, stronger response, and a more elastic material may provide asofter response. This may be advantageous when design the inflatablebelt 100 for different types of users. For example those with big stronglimbs may desire a stronger, harder response while the elderly or frailmay desire a softer response from the belt. The strength/weight of thefabric maybe lighter or heavier, such as 50 denier or 800 denier, andlighter fabric may provide additional advantages in terms of cost,weight, and compliance for conforming to the body. Important aspects ofthe outer belt material are that: it doesn't stretch or stretches to avery small degree, can hold a gas, or is substantially airtight, can beconnected in an airtight fashion to an inner belt material 101, unlessformed together with the inner belt material to make an integrallyformed component. Ideally the outer belt material 102 is also machinewashable. A substantially inelastic outer belt material 102 removes theneed for complicated and expensive limiting plates and other suchconstructions as described by Sato, and forces the inflation to occurinward toward the user as can be seen in FIG. 1L, thereby proving thatthe complicated structures of Sato's bands are not necessary. Theconnection between the outer belt material 102 and the inner beltmaterial 101 is preferably heat sealed, or RF welded, however the readermay note that many means for attaching two fabric like materials in anairtight fashion, such as bonding, may be considered within the scope ofthis invention. The width of the outer belt material 102 may beapproximately 1 in-3 in for inflatable belts 100 intended for the armsand approximately 2-4.5 in for inflatable belts intended for the legs.However, the reader may note that, as described in other embodiments theshape may also be non-rectangular and may span a wider or narrowerregion at different points around the circumference. In general, forareas where freedom of movement is needed a narrower section may bebeneficial, and for areas where load needs to be applied, a widersection may be beneficial.

The inner belt material 101 is preferably an elastic, or stretch fabric,material, and may have a significantly higher degree of elasticity thanthe outer belt material 102. The inner belt material 101 similarly maybe connectable to the outer belt material in a substantially airtightfashion, and may itself be made of a substantially airtight material.For example the inner belt material 101 may be polyurethane coated nylonstretch fabric.

When the outer belt material 102 and inner belt material 101 areconnected they form a gas bladder 103 as shown in FIG. 1K. Theconnection profile forming the gas bladder 103, may be along the entireperimeter of the inner belt fabric 101 or outer belt fabric 102 as shownin FIG. 1K, or may be along only a portion thereof. A gas bladder 103that is formed along a portion of the circumference of the inflatablebelt 100 may have the advantage that it only applies compression to aspecific region on the limb and thus reduces the overall sense ofcompression to the user, improving a feeling of comfort as describedfurther in the embodiment of FIG. 3 . The gas bladder 103 may also havea non-rectangular profile, discussed further in the embodiment of FIG.3B. Further still, in the configuration of FIG. 1K, a gas bladder 103that is smaller than the length of the inflatable belt 100 may not runthrough a loop coupler 115 and exhibit the potential issues discussed bySato in U.S. Pat. No. 8,992,397. The inflatable bladder 103 may belocated anywhere along the length of the inflatable belt 100 and is notrestricted to starting at one end, or at a junction with an optionalbelt spring 114 as shown in FIG. 1K.

An input port 104 is in communication with the gas bladder 103 to allowa gas to flow into and out of the gas bladder. The input port 104 may bean RF weldable valve component, or simply a tube welded or heat sealedbetween the inner belt material 101 and outer belt material 102 as in anIV bag. The input port 104 may be attached protruding out one edge ofthe gas bladder 103 as shown in FIG. 1A-1 for example, or may beconnected perpendicular to the outer belt material 101 as shown in FIG.1K. Perpendicular connection have a benefit of or being easy toconnection an inflation means 106 because the user can use their limb asa back stop, versus a connection point that is parallel with the user'slimb as would be in FIG. 1A-1 . The specific material and method offastening is not critical as long as an inlet is created in an airtightfashion. One or more valve configurations, such as a belt valve 107 (notshown) may further be placed into the input port 104 as part of theinflatable belt 104, but this is not necessarily part of the assembly.The belt valve may be disconnect-able, or otherwise removable, or may bea permanent fixture on the belt assembly. As discussed in otherembodiments, there are many such valve configurations and combinationsthat produce beneficial results and the inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1K,may include any one of them or derivations or extensions of them, ornone at all.

The belt spring 114 is depicted as elastic stretch webbing and may becoupled to the end of the outer belt material 102, through means knownin the art, such as stitching, bonding, RF welding, etc. However thebelt spring 114 may also be connected elsewhere along the length of theouter belt material 102, for example at the mid-point of the outer beltmaterial through suitable means. The main requirement of the belt spring114 is that it resides at a point along the circumference under tension,and is in direct, or indirect communication with the outer belt material102. If stitching is used, care is taken to not puncture the gas bladder103 if the gas bladder commences at this end of the outer belt material102 as shown in FIG. 1K. The belt spring 114 may be any such elasticmaterial, and is itself an optional component. Should the outer beltmaterial 102 be somewhat elastic itself, the belt spring 114 may not benecessary. The belt spring 114 assists in providing compliance to thesystem during muscle contraction, and experiments have shown itdramatically decreases the pressure spike in the gas bladder 103 undermuscle contraction when the outer belt material 102 is, for example,polyurethane coated ballistic nylon 800 denier. The belt spring 114 maybe made of any elastic material such as similar material to the innerbelt material 101, of any suitable width, or may simply be an extensionof the inner belt material as an integral piece, such that the overallelastic properties allow for optimal compliance of the assembly undermuscle contraction.

A belt fastening means 105 as depicted in FIG. 1K by a first fasteningmeans 110, shown as a strip of hook or loop fastener, and a secondfastening means 111 depicted by a strip of mating hook or loop fastener.The belt fastening means 105 is used to lock an outer circumference ofthe inflatable belt 100 when applied around a user's limb (not shown).The reader may note that many such fastening means are known in the art,and hook and loop fasteners are but one version. Further such variationsare described below, and the reader may note these are but a fewexamples and may not limit the scope of this invention. The firstfastening means 110, or second fastening means 111, may in fact haveitself elastic properties and serve as the function of a belt spring 114(described later), thereby eliminating an extra component. The firstfastening means 110 may be in communication with the an end of thesecond fastening means 111 via attachment means such as sewing, and thesecond attachment means in communication with the outer belt material102. As previously stated, if sewing is used, care is taken not topuncture the gas bladder 103. The second fastening means 111 may runalong the length of the outer belt material 102, or only along a portionthereof. Further, should the inner belt material 101 be made wider thanthe outer belt material 101, the second fastening means may be attachedto the inner belt material only. The reader may note this is one exampleof the many combinations and possibilities of combining components,varying their sizes etc, and all such configurations may be consideredwithin the scope and spirit of this invention. The second fasteningmeans 111 may overhang one end of the gas bladder 103 as shown in FIG.1K to provide a length of the inflatable belt 100 that is not covered bythe inflatable bladder 103. In this manner, the total length of thebelt, when laid flat, is only partially covered by the gas bladder 103.In such a configuration it may be desirable to have the gas bladder 103equal the length of the smallest arm circumference of the expected usersuch that the gas bladder 103 never overlaps itself. In this case, forthe smallest arm circumference the gas bladder 103 will butt up againstitself, and for all larger users the gas bladder will cover only aportion of the circumference of the limb. This may be suitable for usersup to the point where the gas bladder covers less than 30% of the limbcircumference as shown in experiments to achieve adequate BFR. This is,but an example, and the gas bladder may also run the length, orsubstantially all of the length, of the belt and belt fastening means105 as well. Alternatively, the gas bladder 103 may have a portion thatis connected to the fastening means 105 and portion that is notconnected to the fastening means as in design shown in the referencedapplication 62/311,936. In this the configuration the gas bladder 103may overlap itself to accommodate a limb circumference smaller than thelength of the gas bladder. Such configurations and concepts areextensive covered in 62/311,936 and shall not be repeated here, butrather incorporated in by reference. The first fastening means 110 maybe attached to the end of the second fastening means 111 such that itmay double-back through a loop coupler 115, and attach to the secondfastening means 111 in the case of a fold-back style belt.Alternatively, if the second fastening means 111 is not extended beyondthe end of the outer belt material 102, the first fastening means 110may itself be connected to the outer belt material. The reader may noteagain that many combinations and variations are possible and all suchconfigurations that result in a fastening of the inflatable belt 100 tolimit the circumference of the belt, or restrain the circumference fromexpanding, when placed on a user and inflated may be considered herein.

An optional body interfacing component 200 may be provided incommunication with the inner belt material 101. The body interfacingcomponent 200 is not required for sufficient functional operation of theinflatable belt of FIG. 1K, or other embodiments for that matter, butcan offer some distinct advantages. As depicted in FIG. 1K, the bodyinterfacing component 200 may be a strip of neoprene rubber,approximately 1.5 mm thick. Strips up to 5 mm thick were tested and allprovide sufficient properties as herein discussed. The body interfacingcomponent 200 preferably has a frictional surface 201, or in the case ofthe neoprene rubber, a “skin” side that is faced inward to contact theuser. This high friction surface 201 may grab the user, or user'sclothing such that rotation during initial tensioning is not observed.Further, the body interfacing component 200 spaces the gas bladder 103off of the limb, in the case of FIG. 1K, by 1.5 mm. This gap between thegas bladder 103 and the user's limb (not shown) is significant becauseit prescribes a certain volume that the gas bladder may inflate into,prior to starting compression of the user's limb. In the case of FIG.1K, where neoprene is used for the body interfacing component 200, thegas bladder 103 will compress and squish the neoprene material directlyunderneath out to the side and thin out underneath the gas bladder, andwhile the full volume filled by the neoprene is not vacated, enough isto allow for substantially more air to fill into the gas bladder priorto starting significant compression on the user's limb than wouldotherwise be allowed if the gas bladder were laid flat against the limbas in the belts of Sato. The body interfacing component 200 is furtherneeded to facilitate donning of the inflatable belt 100 because, shouldthe user want to employ this concept of spacing the gas bladder 103 offthe surface, without the body interfacing component, there would be nofriction or connection to the body (the gap would be filled with air)and this would cause the inflatable belt to slip down on, and rotatefreely around the arm, and be very difficult put on. This phenomenon wasin fact demonstrated in experiments leading to the invention of the bodyinterfacing component 200, where the applicant felt a gas bladderdirectly against the limb was overly constricting, but when a secondperson held the gas bladder off the limb to allow for more inflation,the comfort level was substantially improved and pressure spikesreduced. The body interfacing component 200 further helps to guard theuser's skin against pinching. Pinching is a result of kinking of the gasbladder 103 that can be observed in FIG. 1L where there are kinks in ainflatable belt 100 that has not been pre-stretched. The bodyinterfacing component 200 takes the pinching from the kinks in the gasbladder 103 on the outer surface of the body interfacing component, butbecause of the significant thickness, the kink is dispersed along thethickness of the body interfacing component to where there is no morekink on the inner friction surface 201, which is against the skin, andthus no kink, and no pinching, is transmitted to the user's skin. Thispinching phenomenon was another observed problem with Sato's equipmentwhere Sato only contemplates a thin liner, and not something that willdisperse and eliminate kinks. The body interfacing component 200 furtherserves to distribute the applied load from the gas bladder 103 across acertain width, and on to the user's limb. It is an important property ofthe body interfacing component that it be squishy to a sufficient degreeso as to maintain a soft squishy interface to the user to providemaximum comfort, but be able to move and allow room for the inflatablebladder 103 to expand prior to compressing the user's limb. Comfort wasseen in experiments to be dramatically improved by addition of the bodyinterfacing component 200. The body interfacing component 200 may bepermanently connected to the inflatable belt 100 as shown in FIG. 1K, ormay be removable and attachable as shown in FIG. 2A, B, C, or may beapplied prior to application of the inflatable belt, and not attached tothe inflatable belt at all. In the case the body interfacing component200 is attached to the inflatable belt 100, such attachment may be donewith sewing, bonding or similar means. In the case the body interfacingcomponent 200 is removable, the body interfacing component may furthercomprise or have fixed to it, a first fastening means 110 as shown inFIGS. 2A, B, C and a mating second fastening means 111 similarlyattached to the inflatable belt 100. The attachment means may be anysuch means, such as hook and loop fasteners, described or inferred toherein. The body interfacing component 200, in the removable case, mayserve an important function in that, as shown in FIG. 2A, it may bemeasured by the user to match an arm circumference, or slightly less,for example 80-95% of an arm circumference. In this way, a standardprescribed length of the body interfacing component 200 can beinstructed to all users, in a consistent guideline requiring no priorBFR experience, since measuring an arm circumference is something anyordinary user is capable of This is another detriment to Sato's designs,in that there is no guidelines for where to start the initial tension ofthe belt, and this has been shown to have a dramatic effect on theefficacy, safety, and comfort of KAATSU Training. KAATSU, the company,publishes protocols for determining this starting tension, but theprotocols require much trial and error and even multiple KAATSU Trainingsessions to start to narrow in on what is right for the individual.Solving this problem, of recommending in a consistent way, to noviceusers, how to properly tension the bands, provides a very big advantagein ease of use, to spread mass adoption. The length prescribed may besuch that only very mild tension is initial applied once the inflatablebelt 100 is placed on the user's limb 90. Once the measurement is made,the user may cut a provided body interfacing component 200, or similarlyfold it back, but in some way reduce the length to the prescribed amountfor a given limb girth. Then the user may apply the body interfacingcomponent 200 to the inflatable belt 100, connecting the two matingfastening means such that each end of the body interfacing componentbutts up against each other as shown in FIG. 2D. In this way, the bodyinterfacing component 200 now serves as a reference guide so that whenthe user goes to place the inflatable belt 100 on their arm, they mustonly pull the portion of the inflatable belt meant to feed through theloop coupler (which may or may not include the gas bladder 103) throughthe loop coupler 115 until the two ends of the body interfacingcomponent butt up together. In fact the shape of the body interfacingcomponent 200 may be such that it physically cannot go through the loopcoupler and thus serves as a simple, hard stop, requiring no thinking orexpertise by the user in how tight to apply the initial tension, andfurther guaranteeing that the user cannot over tension the inflatablebelt 100 which provides a further safety advantage. The attachment meansfor connecting the body interfacing component 200 to the inflatable belt100 may be two strips along each side as shown in FIGS. 2A, B, C or maybe a single flat strip across the entire width. In the case of a singlestrip however, since the attachment means is blocking the gas bladder103, the attachment means should itself have similar squishy propertiesas the body interfacing component, or else may block the gas bladderfrom expanding sufficiently and compressing enough of the limb. The useof hook and loop fastener is mainly discussed here because of itssimplicity, but adhesive backed tape, magnets, or other non-permanentfastening means may also be used. Another advantage of a removable bodyinterfacing component 200 is that for hygienic reasons, the bodyinterfacing component may be swappable as the human/belt interface andnot only may users have their own person body interfacing components,but they may also be disposable. In the case of a hospital setting forexample a disposable body interfacing component 200 may provide adistinct health advantage. Thus it can be seen that, while optional tothe function of the inflatable belt in providing BFR, the bodyinterfacing component 200 can serve a variety of important roles toimprove both the comfort, ease of use, and safety of the inflatable belt100. The body interfacing component 200 may be of sufficient width,length and quantity to serve one or all of the above describedfunctions, and does not need to fulfill all the requirements above to beconsidered valuable.

Not shown is an optional stop mechanism that prevents the firstfastening member 110 from exiting the loop coupler 115, and thus keepsthe inflatable belt 100 in a substantially ring like shape. This can aidin donning the inflatable belt 100 as the user does not need to fiddlewith feeding the first fastening means 110 though the loop couple 115.Such a stop mechanism may be a physical barrier such as a bar or tabthat is fixed with suitable means, such as sewing, to the firstfastening means 110 or second fastening means 111 and mechanicallyinterferes with the loop coupler 115 such that the first fastening meanscannot physically pass back through the loop coupler. This is but oneexample and the reader may not there are many ways to prevent an objectsuch as the first fastening means 110 from passing back through the loopcoupler 115.

Preferred Embodiment Operation. The inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1K isapplied as follows in conjunction with a BFR system. First, a user (notshown) selects an appropriate size of inflatable belt 100 based on theirlimb girth. For illustration purposes, we will discuss application to anarm, but the reader shall note any segment of a body may use theseconcepts. If a body interfacing component 200 is provided, and if thebody interfacing component is removable, and has not been customized tothe user, the user first measures their arm girth, and then cuts thebody interfacing component down to a prescribed length which may beequal to, or slightly less than their measured arm girth. Multiple suchbody interfacing components 200 may be provided or purchased and eachindividual may have their own personal set. Being removable has afurther advantage that the body interfacing component 200 may act as asweat barrier and in case of medical applications, where sanitation isparamount, provides a cheap, simple means of swapping components fromone use to the next and washing separately for each individual user. Theuser then attaches their body interfacing component 200 to the inside ofthe inflatable belt 100, if attachment means is provided, oralternatively if the body interfacing component is not meant to beattached to the inflatable belt, the user simply puts the bodyinterfacing component in the proper location on their arm.

Next, the user takes the inflatable belt 100, which may be held in loopform, but is not necessarily so, and slips it over their arm or leg intothe desired position as described in Sato and referenced herein. Thenthe user takes the first fastening means 110 and pulls it furtherthrough the loop coupler 115 until the desired tension is reached, whichmay be, but is not necessarily, dictated by the body interfacingcomponent 200, if provided. As the user starts to pull the firstattachment means 110, the side of the inflatable belt 103 opposite theloop coupler 115, first comes in contact with the user's skin orclothing. As preferred, the optional body interfacing component 200 ispreferably employed with friction surface 201 facing inward and thefriction surface contacts the user's skin or clothing. Because of thehigh frictional coefficient, the body interfacing component 200 grabsthe surface and resists rotation, allowing the user to pull theinflatable belt 100, reasonably snug. Should the inflatable belt 100require a high initial tension, as in the case of KAATSU equipment, therotational force could overcome the frictional force resisting rotationand the inflatable belt could spin in an undesirable manner as Satodescribes. This of course applies only to putting the inflatable belt100 on oneself, as only one hand can easily reach the inflatable belt.If putting the inflatable belt 100 on someone else, the problems relatedto rotation are irrelevant. Because the optional body interfacingcomponent 200 is spacing the gas bladder 103 sufficiently off the limb'ssurface, thereby providing significant volume increase for the gasbladder 200 to expand into, a low initial tension just to keep the bandin place is all that is required and thus rotation is not a problem.

Thus ends the most basic method of operation of a basic inflatable belt100, and tensioning system design to construct an inflatable belt, applythe inflatable belt to the user, and prepare the inflatable belt forinflation. For completeness, the full system operation will further bediscussed in this preferred embodiment as related to system embodimentsdepicted in FIGS. 1D-1 and 1D-2 .

Once tensioned, the inflatable belt 100 may be connected, if not alreadypermanently connected as shown in FIG. 1B, with an inflation means 106,and additional valves and optional components as will be discussedlater. While not required, for example as shown in FIG. 1B, a belt valve107, preferably employing a gas flow shutoff means 108, may come with,and remain attached to, the input port 104 of the inflatable belt 100 asshown in FIG. 1C on a straight overlap style belt. In this case the gasflow shutoff means 108 may be a spring plunger or duckbill valve, or anyother means of holding air within the gas bladder 103 when the inflationmeans is disconnected. A valve coupling 120 may be configured to mate tothe belt valve 107 in a quick connect type fashion to make clipping andunclipping of the inflation means 106 very simple and fast as shown inFIGS. 1D-1 and 1D-2 . Many such valves are described in thisspecification and the reader shall note that an endless variety of suchvalves exist and all such mechanisms that perform the functions hereindescribed may be considered within the scope of this application. If notpermanently connected as shown in FIG. 1 B, an inflation means 106 maybe connected to belt valve 107 via valve coupling 120. The inflationmeans may be a manual latex or PVC squeeze ball as depicted in FIGS.1D-1,2 and seen on standard blood pressure cuff devices, or may be adifferent kind of gas pump, including an electromechanical pump. If thebelt valve 107 employs a gas flow shutoff means 108, this means ispreferable deactivated automatically upon connection of the valvecoupling 120, as many such existing quick connect valve combinationsfunction.

Gas, preferably air, is next injected into the gas bladder 103 byinflation means 106 until a desired pressure is reached. A desiredpressure may be indicated by a pressure readout 703 as shown in FIG. 7B,but adapted to the configuration of inflatable belt 100 shown in FIG.1D-1,2 , or other figures in this application. The reader shall notethat it is well understood in the art how to connect or insert apressure readout into a pneumatic system. In place of a pressure readout703, a pressure limiting valve 117 may provide an upper pressure limitabove, and the pressure limiting valve may release air until thepressure has dropped such that the pressure limiting valve resets andseals the opening. Such check-style, or pop-off, valves are well knownin the industry and any such method or means for accomplishing pressurelimiting may be considered within this scope. The pressure limitingvalve 117 may be easily swappable, allowing for quick replacement fordifferent users, or may be permanently connected, or may itself beadjustable, for example through mean such as shown in FIGS. 8A, B, orotherwise non-adjustable. Adjustability of the pressure limiting valve117 will be discussed further below but may be done with differentsprings, or initial compressions of a given spring, and many suchmethods are commonly known in the field of pneumatic relief valves. Thepressure limiting valve 117 may come with or without markings toindicate the maximum, or “pop-off”, pressure setting. An advantage ofthe pressure limiting valve 117 may be that the user does not need tothink or try and precisely inflate the inflatable belt 100, but can justpump the manual inflation means 106 until the pressure limiting valveactivates, further simplifying use. Finally, an electromechanicalpressure control system such as in FIGS. 9A, B may be used to serve asimilar function to the pressure limiting valve 117.

Once the desired pressure is achieved in the inflatable belt 100, thevalve coupling 120 may be disconnected from the belt valve 107, and thegas flow shutoff means 108 may retain the pressure in the inflatablebelt, and the user is free to move around and do various exerciseswithout additional equipment attached that adds weight, bulk, andencumbers movement.

When the user is through with the desired exercises, the user may use anoptional manual relief actuator 801, if provided, that is preferably,but not necessarily, part of the belt valve 107, to release the pressurein the gas bladder 103 and deflate the inflatable belt 100 to a lowtension on the arm. The user then removes first fastening means 110 andpulls the inflatable belt 100, still preferably kept in loop form, offof their limb. The user may then remove the body interface component200, if the component is configured to be removable, and may wash it, orreplace it with a different one for a next user.

Alternate Embodiment—#1. FIGS. 1A-1 and 1A-2 depict an alternateembodiment wherein the inflatable belt 100 is configured to be fastenedin a straight overlap configuration. The two principal configurationsshown in the figures in this application are either of a straightoverlap configuration or a fold-back configuration. Sato discusses someof the advantages and disadvantages of each style that need not berepeated here. In FIG. 1A-1 a gas bladder 103 is formed from an outerbelt material 102 connected in a hermetically sealed fashion along aportion thereof, to an inner belt material 101. Widths, lengths andconnection methods are substantially similar to the preferredembodiment. An input port 104, substantially similar to the input portof the preferred embodiment is in communication with the gas bladder103. A first attachment means is in communication to one end of theouter belt material 102, such that a portion of the first attachmentmeans 110 overhangs the end of the outer belt material. Alternativelythe outer belt material 102 may be longer than the inner belt materialand serve as a backing for the first attachment means 110, which maytherefore be attached to the same side of the outer belt material as theinner belt material 101 is attached to. Alternatively still, the innerbelt material 101 may be longer than the outer belt material 102 suchthat a portion overhangs the outer belt material 102. In this case thefirst attachment means 110 may be connected to the bottom surface of theinner belt material. Further still, since the inner belt material 101 iselastic, if a portion of the inner belt material, overhanging the outerbelt material 102, is left uncovered by the inelastic first fasteningmeans 110, this uncovered portion may serve as the belt spring 114 andfurther reduce components and make the construction more economical.Should the first fastening means 110 itself be elastic, there may be noneed for an uncovered portion of the inner belt material 101.

FIG. 1A-2 shows the straight overlap style inflatable belt 100 of FIG.1A-1 but in a wrapped configuration. To don the inflatable belt 100, theuser would place one end on their limb and simply wrap the other endaround their limb, overlapping appropriately so as to developappropriate tension. The reader shall note that while not shown, thebody interfacing component 200 may be used to provide all the advantagesdiscussed previously. Once wrapped to the appropriate length, the userwould secure first fastening means 110 to second fastening means 111 tolock the circumference of the inflatable belt 100. The inflation andusage of the inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1A-1,2 is substantially similarto the preferred embodiment in reference to connection/disconnection ofinflation means 106 and employment of belt valve 107 or pressurelimiting valve 117, and other components described in the preferredembodiment.

Alternate Embodiment #2. FIG. 1B depicts an alternate embodiment of ablood flow restriction system 116 wherein the inflatable belt 100 ispermanently connected with the inflation means 106 through a gas hose119. The gas hose 119 may be further in communication with an adjustablerelease valve 118, shown positioned near the inflation means 106, butnot necessarily so located. The adjustable release valve 118 mayalternative be a pressure limiting valve 117. Permanent connection ofthe inflation means 106 has an added benefit of part count reductionfurther simplifying the system and reducing price. Such a configurationmay be well suited for applications where the user will remainsubstantially stationary while doing basic movements, such as arehabilitation setting. “Permanent”, as stated in this specification,may be taken to mean semi-permanent where certain connections, forexample a hose barb, may be disconnected from time to time, but are notnecessarily intended for repeated connect/disconnect cycles.

The inflation and usage of the inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1 B issubstantially similar to the preferred embodiment in reference toconnection/disconnection of inflation means 106 and employment of beltvalve 107 or pressure limiting valve 117, and other components describedin the preferred embodiment.

Alternate Embodiment #3. FIG. 1C depicts a modification of FIG. 1A-1 ,with the inflatable belt 100 connected further with a belt valve 107,and the belt valve further incorporates a gas flow shutoff means 108,such as a check valve, or any other such one way valves as hereindisclosed. The inflatable belt 100 in FIG. 1C may come pre-populatedwith the belt valve 107 and may therefore be considered part of theassembly in this configuration. Such a belt valve 107 may further beconfigured for quick connect/disconnection functionality such as aspring loaded clasp or break away connection from a valve coupling 120as shown in FIG. 1D-1 . In such a scenario, the valve coupling 120 maybe designed on connection to de-activate, or override the gas flowshutoff means 108, generally with a mechanical action, such that the airpath is clear for gas, or air, to flow from the inflation means 106 intothe gas bladder 103.

The inflation and usage of the inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1C issubstantially similar to the preferred embodiment in reference toconnection/disconnection of inflation means 106 and employment of beltvalve 107 or pressure limiting valve 117, and other components describedin the preferred embodiment.

Alternate Embodiment #4. FIG. 1D-1 shows the inflatable belt of FIG. 1C,with the valve coupling 120 and inflation means 106 connected and thegas flow shutoff means 108 is de-activated. FIG. 1D-1 further shows apressure limiting valve 117, that may be adjustable, in communicationwith a gas hose 119 such that when a pressure in the gas hose and airbladder 103 circuit is higher than a pre-determined value, the pressurelimiting valve releases as much air as necessary to drop the pressure inthe air circuit back below the maximum pressure allowed by the pressurelimiting valve. The pressure limiting valve 117 may have a single fixedpressure limit value or may be adjustable and connected with a pressurereadout (not shown) so that the user may control the actual pressure inthe air circuit according to a visual pressure reading. When the desiredpressure is achieved, the valve coupling 120 is disconnected and the gasflow shutoff means 108 activates, trapping a fixed volume at the desiredpressure inside the gas bladder 103. The reader shall note that whileFIG. 1 B, D-1 show two different valves, a pressure limiting valve 117and an adjustable relief valve 118, both of these valves may havesimilar functions and designs, and in general are interchangeable in alldescribed embodiments. The main difference is that the pressure reliefvalve 117 may be configured to automatically release pressure at the setlimit, whereas the adjustable relief valve 118 may be manually turned toopen and close.

The inflation and usage of the inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1D-1 issubstantially similar to the preferred embodiment in reference toconnection/disconnection of inflation means 106 and employment of beltvalve 107 or pressure limiting valve 117, and other components describedin the preferred embodiment.

Alternate Embodiment #5. FIG. 1D-2 shows a similar configuration of ablood flow restriction system 116 as FIG. 1D-1 , however the belt valve107, has been removed and replaced with the pressure limiting means,shown as pressure limiting valve 117. In this case, the pressurelimiting valve 117 must be able to accept air into an inlet, yet preventair from releasing out of the gas bladder 103 until a limit pressure isreached. The pressure limiting valve 117 may have a pre-set limit whereno pressure readout (not shown) is needed, and may incorporate a one wayvalve in addition to the pressure limiting feature, or in combinationwith the pressure limiting feature, to prevent backflow out of theintake. Alternatively, the pressure limiting valve 117 may simply be amanual twist-to-release valve, or adjustable relief valve 118, ascommonly seen on blood pressure cuffs, which is configured to alwaysallow air flow into the gas bladder 103 and manually opened to allow airflow out at a flow rate proportionally to the degree of twist. In suchmanner, when inflation means 106 is coupled via valve coupling 120 andtoo much air is pumped into the gas bladder 103, the adjustable reliefvalve 118 may be twisted to release air until a desired pressure isreached, and then twisted closed to prevent further leakage, therebytrapping the desired air pressure in the gas bladder. In this case itmay be desirable to attach a pressure readout 703 (not shown) incommunication with the gas hose 119 in between the adjustable reliefvalve 118 and the inflation means 106, so that the user can visiblyregulate the pressure to the desired level and then decouple thepressure readout, gas hose, and inflation means by disconnecting valvecoupling 120. The reader can clearly see that the present inventor isillustrating various ways of combining valve types and features forpreventing, limiting, or allowing air flow within an air circuit, andvarious combinations may have advantages and disadvantages in terms ofease of use and manufacturability, or availability of off the shelfcomponents, however all such combinations, whether currently existing orcustom designed, may be considered within the scope of this application.The pressure limiting valve 117 however may offer a significantadvantage over the adjustable release valve 118 in that it requires nothinking or titrating of the pressure, and does not require the cost ofthe pressure readout 703 or attachment means to the gas hose 119,thereby reducing cost, bulk, and increasing ease of use.

The inflation and usage of the inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1D-2 issubstantially similar to the preferred embodiment in reference toconnection/disconnection of inflation means 106 and employment of beltvalve 107 or pressure limiting valve 117, and other components describedin the preferred embodiment.

Alternate Embodiment—#6. FIG. 1 E shows the straight overlap styleinflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1A-1 with an addition of the bodyinterfacing component 200. The body interfacing component 200 may besubstantially similar to that described in the preferred embodiment. Thebody interfacing component 200 may be permanently fixed to, ordetachable from to the inner belt material 101 at one or more pointsalong the surface, preferably the perimeter, or may be simply loosefitting, or removable, and completely separate from the inflatable belt100. In the case the inflatable belt is a separate assembly, the userwould don the body interfacing component 200, after going through theprocess of trimming it to the appropriate length as discussed in thepreferred embodiment, place the friction surface 201 facing againsttheir limb, and securing the body interfacing component to itself with afastening means (not shown) to hold the body interfacing component ontheir body. Then the inflatable belt 100 is applied around the bodyinterfacing component, tightened to the appropriate degree and preparedfor inflation as discussed prior. In the case of being separable, thebody interfacing component 200 may have features that promote locatingand holding to the inflatable belt 100 to keep the inflatable belt in adesired position, such as a trough design, adhesive surface, etc. In thecase the body interfacing component 200 is fixed to the inflatable belt100, the length of the body interfacing component may be, but is notnecessarily, at least as long, and at least as wide as the inflatablebladder 103. The body interfacing component 200 may be shorter or longerthan the inflatable bladder 103 but may not be so short as to fail toprovide a single one of the benefits described in the preferredembodiment, and may not be so long as to provide bulk and interfere withtensioning of the belt. The body interfacing component 200 may be anywidth that provides at least one benefit as described in the preferredembodiment, but is preferably as wide, or wider than, the gas bladder103 to facilitate connection to the outer belt material 102 along theedges, via, for example, stitching, bonding, or welding, or withnon-permanent connection such as hook and loop fastener. As stated, thebody interfacing component 200 may be attachable to the inflatable belt100 via first attachment means 110 placed on the body interfacingcomponent, and second attachment means 111 on the inflatable belt asshown in FIGS. 2A-C.

As previously discussed the body interfacing component 200 may be anymaterial that has sufficient compliance to accomplish the benefitsdescribed in the preferred embodiment, and is preferably neoprenerubber, of reasonable thickness to provide the benefits, for example 1.5mm thick, and with skin surface on at least one side. However a lowdurometer polyurethane, or latex would also suffice, and many other suchmaterials and polymers may be used instead of neoprene rubber.

Alternate Embodiment—#7. FIG. 1F shows an alternate construction for thestraight overlap style band of FIG. 1A-1 , employing a ratchet stylemechanism 112 to lock the outer belt material 102 at a fixedcircumference. The ratchet style mechanism 112 is shown connected to theend of the outer belt material 102 but may be additionally attached to abelt spring (not shown), which in turn is attached to the outer beltmaterial. In this way, compliance is added to the inflatable belt 100,to provide comfort and reduce pressure spikes during muscle contraction.The ratchet style mechanism 112 is shown attached to the end of theinflatable belt 100, but may be attached anywhere along the length, forexample in the middle or the inflatable belt. As previously stated, theinput port 104 may be similarly located at any point along the length ofthe gas bladder 103, and is not restricted to placement at one end asshown. In this embodiment, additional features of the ratchet stylemechanism 112 are added to the outer belt material 102 on the said wherethe inner belt material 101 exists. These features are represented byteeth 122 embossments, as those commonly seen in ratchet stylemechanisms. These features may be applied to a surface of the outer beltmaterial 102 that overhangs the gas bladder 103 as shown in FIG. 1F, orthey may be attached to the end of the outer belt material and serve asan extension thereof. The teeth 122 and ratchet style mechanism 112 maybe made of any material such as metal, plastic, or rubber to name a few,and are preferably flexible in nature to take a contour similar to theuser's limb without providing a sense of bulk or abrasion to the user.

When used, similar steps as to those described in the preferredembodiment are followed, and if applicable, the body interfacingcomponent 200 (not shown) may be employed. The user feeds the teeth 122through the ratchet style mechanism 112 and cranks the ratchet stylemechanism down until a desired tension is reached. Alternativelyre-useable zip tie style ratchet style mechanism 112, as shown in FIG.12 , may be employed relying on the user to pull the teeth 122 throughthe ratchet style mechanism 112 until the desired tension is reached,and the re-usable zip-tie style mechanism simply prevents the teeth fromgoing back through the re-usable zip-lock style mechanism when the userreleases the teeth, yet allowing the user to activate a lever that willrelease the teeth upon the user's actions.

The teeth 122 may further be permanently inserted into the ratchet stylemechanism 112, such that they are not allowed to go fully back out ofthe mechanism, locking the inflatable belt 100 to a substantiallyloop-like shape at all times. This may aid in the usability as the userwill simply need to insert their limb into the loop-like shape, and notneed to feed the teeth 122 through the mechanism, and will simply needto activate the mechanism or pull the exposed section of teeth furtherthrough the mechanism to achieve the desired compression, or tension inthe inflatable belt 100. This may be particularly beneficial on an armbelt design where only one hand is readily available.

The ratchet style mechanism 112 itself may act as a handle, or have anadditional handle feature (not shown) to provide a similar technique fortightening as Sato describes in U.S. Pat. No. 8,992,397 where a user mayuse both hands to tighten the inflatable belt 100. In this case theratchet style mechanism 112 itself may provide similar function toSato's “second band shaped member”, and the extra material passingthrough the ratchet style mechanism serves the function of Sato's “firstband shaped member” in relation to how a user may grasp the inflatablebelt 100 easily to tighten it down initially. The benefit being that theoverall bulk of the mechanism is reduced, and there are not two “tails”that need to be dealt with to avoid flopping around during subsequentexercises; there is only one.

A belt spring 114 (if used), cam-lock style mechanism 113, ratchet stylemechanism 112, or loop coupler 115 are ideally located away from thedeep venous target area. The ideal location for such components on thearms is the outer medial surface of the arm, and similarly for the legs,the outer medial surface as shown in FIGS. 10, 11 . These locations arerelatively flat, have only superficial veins that can be compressed bythe non-gas bladder portion of the band, and do not experience muchbulging or movement to impede or abrade during muscle contraction.

The inflation and usage of the inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1F issubstantially similar to the preferred embodiment in reference toconnection/disconnection of inflation means 106 and employment of beltvalve 107 or pressure limiting valve 117, and other components describedin the preferred embodiment.

Alternate Embodiment #8. FIG. 1G shows a variation of the inflatablebelt 100 of FIG. 1F where instead of a ratchet style mechanism 112, acam-lock style mechanism 113 is provided. All such details aboutlocation, placement, material, operation etc. commented regarding FIG.1G apply to FIG. 1F. The main difference is that there are no toothembossments, or similar, features required for the cam-lock to function.The outer belt material 102 may simply be extended beyond the gasbladder 103, to a length sufficient as to wrap around a desired limbgirth and push through the cam-lock style mechanism 113. The user maythen simply pull the desired length through the cam-lock style mechanism113 and activate the lock to hold the position of the outer belt fabric102.

Similar concepts described in relation to the ratchet style mechanism112, and how to lock the inflatable belt 100 in a loop-like shape, howto incorporate a belt spring 114, and how to use the ratchet stylemechanism 112 as a handle for applying initial tension, similarly applyto the cam-lock style mechanism 113 of FIG. 1G.

Alternate Embodiment #9. FIGS. 1 H, I, J shows an inflatable belt 100similar to FIG. 1A-1 , further comprising an optional component, a beltspring 114 to add additional elasticity in the longitudinal, orcircumferential when placed around a body segment, direction for addedcomfort, safety, and assistance in keeping a constant pressure undermuscle contraction. The belt spring 114 may be any elastic material thatprovides a suitable spring constant, such as, but not limited to,stretch webbing, stretch fabric, rubber, etc. The belt spring 114 mayfurther be of any suitable width, length, or profile as to accomplishthe goals set forth above and in the other embodiments described herein.For example the belt spring 114 may be the width of the outer beltmaterial 102 or may be narrower or wider then that outer belt material,and have a rectangular shape, or a non-rectangular shape. The beltspring 114 may be attached to the outer belt material 102 at one end asshown, or anywhere along the length of the outer belt material, or maybe placed between the cam-lock style mechanism 113 of FIG. 1G, orratchet style mechanism 112 of FIG. 1H, and the outer belt material. Thebelt spring 114 may be of a short length as shown in FIG. 1H, forexample 1 inch, or may be a longer length as shown in FIG. 11 . The beltspring 114 may be attached to an additional component, for example afirst attachment means 110 as shown in FIG. 1H, or a belt tensioningstrap 121 as shown in FIG. 1J. The belt spring 114 may be itself thebelt fastening means 105 as shown in FIG. 11 where it is depicted incombination with the cam-lock style mechanism 113 of FIG. 1G.Additionally, combining FIGS. 1 H,1, the belt spring 114 and firstfastening member 110 may be combined into an elastic first fasteningmember 110 such that a configuration similar to FIG. 11 is constructedbut with a second fastening means 111 employed along an outer surface ofthe outer belt material 102 instead of the cam-lock style mechanism 113.

The belt spring 114 may similarly be applied in designs of a fold-backconfiguration such as shown in FIG. 1K and described in the preferredembodiment. In such cases the belt spring 114 may be attached to a loopcoupler 115 that serves as the fold back mechanism. Or the belt spring114 may be similar to as shown in FIGS. 1 H, I, J and the outer beltfabric 102 connected to the loop coupler 115.

The belt spring 114 functions as follows. As the user dons theinflatable belt 100, the belt spring is under very little tension and isin a substantially contracted state. As gas, or more specifically air,is pumped into the gas bladder 103 by the inflation means 106, the gasbladder begins to inflate and take up the space between the user's limband the outer belt material 102. During this process, the belt spring114 tension is increased and it starts to stretch, but only mildly so asmost of the compliance is taken up by the air compressing in the gasbladder 103. When the target inflation pressure is reached, there is anequilibrium achieved in the tension in the belt spring 114 and thecompression of the air in the gas bladder 103, combining to provide anoverall compression on the user's limb. The belt spring 114, cam-lockstyle mechanism 113, ratchet style mechanism 112, or loop coupler 115are ideally located away from the deep venous target area, which on thearms is the outer medial surface of the arm, and similarly the outermedial surface on the leg. These locations are relatively flat, haveonly superficial veins that can be compressed by the non-gas bladderportion of the band, and do not experience much bulging or movement toimpede or abrade during muscle contraction. As the muscle contracts,volume inside the gas bladder 103 first begins to compress, causing amild spike in the pressure according to arm girth, and volume of the airbladder. As the pressure increases, the higher pressure pushes outwardon the outer belt material 102 in the radial direction and cause anincrease in circumferential tension in the inflatable belt 100. Thistension is taken up by the belt spring 114 and the belt spring expandsslightly more to accommodate the now larger muscle bulge and keep thetension from further increasing and subsequently putting morecompressive force directly on the underlying muscle. As the muscle iscontracted, the system restores the previous equilibrium as the beltspring 114 shrinks back down in length and the bladder expands as themuscle reduces in size. Therefore the belt spring 114 serves as afurther limiter to ensure that too-high pressures inside the gas bladder103 are not allowed to occur, thereby improving both safety and comfort.

The reader may therefore note again that the exact location of the beltspring 114 in the construction of the inflatable belt 100 is notcritical; what is critical is that the belt spring provides additionalcompliance during inflation and muscle contraction.

Alternate Embodiment—#10. FIG. 1L shows images of an inflatable belt 100or a fold-back configuration, similar to FIG. 1K, from an experimentwhere the inner belt material 101 was pre-stretched by 20% as shown onthe lower image. The reader may note there is significantly less kinkingin the design with pre-stretch, eliminating the discomfort issue of thekinks pinching the user's skin. Pre-stretch of the inner belt material101 may therefore be used to improve the comfort situation for the user.Additionally, pre-stretch cause the belt to curl into a spiral when notapplied to the limb, and thus when applied, forms a natural “wrapping”of the limb which may help hold the location of the inflatable belt 100on the limb. While the elimination of kinks via the pre-stretchingtechnique is beneficial and may reduce the need for the body interfacecomponent 200, the reader may note that the body interface componentprovides many other functions such as spacing of the air bladder off theskin to allow sufficient inflation, anti-rotation gripping, andpotentially used to guide in setting initial tension, therefore thereader shall understand there are still may benefits to the bodyinterfacing component.

Alternate Embodiment—#11. FIGS. 2A-E show the body interfacing component200 as a detachable component. The body interfacing component 200 hasbeen discussed extensively prior, and the reader shall remember it maybe separable from the inflatable belt 100, attached at any point alongthe inflatable belt, not attached at all to the inflatable belt, at awidth greater then, less than, or equal to the gas bladder 103, at alength greater than, less than, or equal to the gas bladder, made of anymaterial that has appropriate properties to satisfy at least one of thedescribed benefits, may or may not be used to guide the initialtensioning of the band, and may be employed in one or more instances tothe inflatable belt. FIGS. 2D,E show configurations of the bodyinterfacing component 200 as a single piece and as two piecesrespectively. In both cases a friction surface 201 is facing inwardagainst the user's limb. In FIG. 2D, the body interfacing component 200spans the width of the gas bladder, has a length less than the gasbladder, and is attached along the edges of the outer belt material 102,via hook and loop fasteners as shown by first attachment means 110 andsecond attachment means 111. In FIG. 2E, the body interfacing component200 is attached only along the edges of the inflatable belt 100, andattached similarly to the user as in FIG. 2D.

The reader shall note these are but two examples of how a bodyinterfacing component 200 can be used, and all such further derived orcombined configurations may be considered within the scope of thisinvention.

Alternate Embodiment—#12. FIG. 3A shows a targeting inflatable belt 300,comprising a gas bladder 103 that divides the circumference of the limb(not shown) into a target compression zone 301 under the gas bladder,and a target compression relief zone 302 that is not under the gasbladder. The target compression zone 301 is ideally at least 30% of thefull circumference and placed over a portion of the limb where the deepvenous system may optimally be accessed and compressed as shown in FIG.10, 11 . The length of the gas bladder 103 in such a configuration maytherefore be the girth of the smallest limb that is desired to becompressed, thereby covering 100% of that person, and covering up to 30%of the girth of a user who has a limb girth of 333% of the smaller limbgirth, giving a substantial range of limb girths. The targetinginflatable belt 300 of FIG. 3A is applied in a circumferential positionto the limb such that there is optimal coverage of the compressiontarget zone 301 over the deep veins, in order that the tissue compressedduring inflation, displaces radially inward, and cause compression ofthe deep veins. On the arms, this is position is on the inner medialsurface and on the legs, this position is on the inner medial surface inthe groin region, slightly rotated toward the thigh as shown in FIGS.10, 11 . The compression relief zone 302 is preferably located over theouter medial surface of the arm and on the outer medial surface and overthe hip flexor muscle on the legs. By creating a relief space in theseareas, the muscles that move perpendicular to, and underneath, theinflatable belt 100, in particular the hip flexor muscle during raisingof the knee in running or “high knee” exercises, avoid a hard, pointed,compression feeling from the gas bladder 103, which can get quite rigidwhen inflated with substantial air, or used with belts of sufficientrigidity as in the case of Sato's inventions that employ stiffeners.Thus, overall comfort is improved while maintaining the effective levelsof BFR.

The reader may note that while the targeting inflatable belt 300 isshown in a straight overlap configuration, the same concepts can beeasily adapted to a fold-back style configuration.

Alternate Embodiment—#13. FIG. 3B is another example of a targetinginflatable belt 300, designed specifically for the leg. This version wasdesigned and tested to demonstrate a couple key aspects of the physicsof what is happening with the compression levels. It has been previouslydiscussed that wider bands require less pressures to cause a given levelof venous restriction, and it has been reported that user's wearingblood pressure cuffs report higher levels of comfort than with KAATSUequipment, which is narrow. What is known is that blood pressure cuffsare much wider, but also use much lower pressures than KAATSU equipmentbecause of the previous effect discussed of cuff width on tissuedisplacement and degree of restriction. However, the applicant has trieda blood pressure cuff, and while the static comfort may be higher, thewide cuff compresses so much muscle, is totally inelastic, and thereforethe muscle has nowhere to go and to try a movement, like running, isimpossible. The applicant therefore has invented a concept of a widertargeting inflatable belt 300 with a gas-filled, non-rectangular, gasbladder 103, over non-rectangular compression target zone 301, shown bythe diamond shaped profile in FIG. 3B, and compression relief zones 302on either side of the target compression zone. The target compressionzone 301 under the gas bladder 103 is meant to cover the inner groinarea of the leg at the widest part, and tapers down to a thinner widthas the targeting inflatable belt 300 is wrapped around the leg. Thetarget compression zone 301, ends prior to overlapping the hip flexormuscle which resides underneath the compression relief zone 302. Hookand loop fasteners are employed as first fastening means 110 and secondfastening means 111 respectively in a fold-back style for application tothe user's leg. Because of the contour of the leg is in some casesconical, dual fastening means may be used, so that that they mayseparate and contour better to the conical surface of the leg than asingle fastening means which would apply uneven tension and be loose onthe bottom edge where the leg circumference is less. Spring elements114, in the form of stretch fabric, are employed between the loopcouplers 115 on one side and the second fastening means 111 on theopposite side.

This extension of the concept of a targeting inflation belt 300illustrates yet another of the many configurations, combinations, andquantities of concepts and design elements invented by the applicant indesigning the optimally comfortable and effective solution for a BFRbelt concept. As is such, all prior discussion and concepts of springelements, fastening means, etc shall further apply to this embodimentfor creating an optimal targeting inflation belt 300.

Alternate Embodiment—#14. FIG. 4 shows a modular inflatable bladder 400comprising a detachable gas bladder 401 for attachment to an outer beltmaterial 102. Detachable gas bladder 401 may be made of any suitable,elastic, airtight material such as those described herein. Detachablegas bladder 401 is in communication with an input port 104, and theinput port may be a molded in feature in the case of a molded urethaneor latex bladder, or may be a separate piece that is inserted. Thedetachable gas bladder 401 further may be in communication with a firstattachment means 110 with which the user may attach the detachable gasbladder to a second attachment means 111 on the outer belt material 102.The outer belt material 102 further is in communication with anotherfirst attachment means 110 and another second attachment means 111 whichare used to lock the outer circumference of the modular inflatable belt400 as described in prior embodiments. In FIG. 4 , the attachment means,or belt fastening means 105 are meant to be hook and loop fasteners butany such fastening methods as previously described may be used if theyaccomplish the same objectives. An optional spring element 114 isfurther shown to add a degree of circumferential elasticity aspreviously described as being beneficial, or the outer belt material 102may be slightly elastic to allow for slight circumferential stretch aspreviously described as being beneficial.

Operation of this embodiment is substantially the same as previouslydescribed, only the step of adding an appropriately sized detachable gasbladder 401 to the outer belt material 102 is required prior toapplication to the user's limb. The benefit of detachable gas bladders401 is that an individual can have and retain their own bladders forwashing or cleaning and sanitation is thus improved which can beimportant in a medical application for example. Further, if thedetachable gas bladder 401 is a simple construction, such as RF weldingtwo strips of stretch fabric with Velcro strips together, many sizes canbe fabricated in mass production very easily and thus a simple,customized solution is easily reached. The body interfacing component200 is not shown, but may be added to the detachable gas bladder 401permanently, detachable in its own right, or not used at all. All theprior discussions regarding the body interfacing component 200 andbenefits thereof, still apply to this embodiment. Finally, the readermay not that while a straight overlap configuration is exemplified, thefeatures, components, and quantity may all be adapted to create afold-back style of belt.

Alternate Embodiment—#16. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show an alternateconstruction of an inflatable belt 100, comprised of an inner moldedbladder 501, an input port 104 in communication with the inner moldedbladder, an outer bladder surface 502, an outer belt material 102 incommunication with the outer bladder surface, and a first fasteningmeans 110 and a second fastening means 111, and the inner molded bladdercomprises additional anti roll features 503 on either side that preventthe inflatable belt from moving on the user's limb during inflation,muscle contraction, and exercise. The inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 5 isshown without end caps for illustration purposes only to show that it ishollow, but the readers may recognize the that inner molded bladder 501is in fact hermetically sealed on the ends as well so that it is capableof holding a gas pressure. The inner molded bladder 501 may be made outof latex rubber, polyurethane, or another other such elastic material.The thickness of the walls may be equal, or, for example, the thicknessof the wall in contact with the user may be thinned such that it hasless resistance to inflation and biased to inflate radially inward tocompress a body segment. The reader may recognize there are manyvariations of material type, material properties, and constructionproperties, such as wall thickness, that may provide certain advantages,and as long as the inner molded bladder 501 is configured to resistmovement on the limb, and apply an adequate compression force againstthe limb under inflation and when restrained, all such variations may beconsidered within the scope of this invention.

The input port 104 is substantially the same as what has been describedpreviously, but may be molded in, and therefore integrated together withthe inner molded bladder 501 forming an integrally formed component. Thelength of the inner molded bladder 501 may be substantially similar tothe bladders previously discussed and may cover only a portion of thetarget limb, the full circumference, or even overlap itself as shown inprevious embodiments of an inflatable belt 100. The width of the innermolded bladder may be substantially similar to that previous discussed,or discussed in Sato's patents, but may also be wider or narrowerdepending on the target limb size. The outer belt material 102 is incontact with the outer bladder surface 502 of the inner molded bladder501 as shown in FIG. 5 and may cover the full length of the outerbladder surface, be longer than the outer bladder surface, or only aportion thereof. For example, the outer belt material 102 may not covera portion of the outer bladder surface 502 such that the inner moldedbladder 501, which is elastic material, may stretch along this length.In such a construction, the inner molded bladder may act as the beltspring 114 described previously to assist in keeping pressure constantduring muscle contraction. In such a case, the second fastening means111 may be attached to the outer bladder surface 502 directly, forexample via bonding, such that when the inner molded bladder is wrappedaround a user's limb, the first fastening means 110 connects with thesecond fastening means 111 to lock the circumference of the inflatablebelt 100. Additionally the outer belt material 102 may not be used atall and both fastening means attached directly to the outer bladdersurface 502 by suitable means with an optional gap between the ends andalong the length of the outer bladder surface to allow the inner moldedbladder 501 to stretch. The inner molded bladder 501 may incorporatereinforcing components (not shown, but similar to FIGS. 6A-C) to assistit in keep its shape and prevent roll.

Additionally still, if one of the fastening members is elastic, no gapneed exist and the other, non-elastic member may cover substantially thefull length of the outer bladder surface 502. The inner molded bladder501 may further incorporate anti-roll features 503 that resist thebladder from rolling or moving on the user's limb. The anti-rollfeatures 503 are depicted in FIG. 5 as two cavities in the inner moldedbladder 501 on either side of the fastening means and outer beltmaterial 102.

When the inflatable belt 100 is placed around the user's body segment,for example the arm, with appropriate initial tension, and the innermolded bladder 501 is inflated, the large cavity will try to expand,invert, and form a sphere. The central portion, covered by the outerbladder surface 502 is kept from substantially expanding via the outerbelt material 102 and fastening members, however employed, and thestress is shifted to the anti-roll features 503, which try and turn intosmall spheres on the ends. These anti-roll features 503 act as pontoonsto keep the belt relatively stationary and located substantially in oneplace as the inner molded bladder moves over the underlying musclesduring exercise. Many such profiles and shapes may be conceived thatserve to prevent the belt from rolling across the muscles, and suchprofiles may be molded into the inner molded bladder 501 itself oraffixed to it separately. The reader may recognize that the conceptinvented is a mechanism and method of restraining an inflatable belt100, of inner molded bladder 501, from expanding radially outward, whilesimultaneously securing it to a body segment on the user and preventingit from rolling around on the user's limb during user movement.

Additionally, a belt spring 114 (not shown) may be added into theperimeter of the restraining mechanism, which in the case of FIG. 5 isthe outer belt material 102 plus fastening members. Additionally still,a body interfacing component 200 (not shown) may be added to theassembly to improve the function based on the advantages of the bodyinterfacing component as previously described. The reader may recognizethat additions, or omissions, of these design elements furtherillustrate the applicant's statement that many combinations of suchdesign elements exist and may be considered within the scope of thisinvention. The readers may further understand that by “prevent theinflatable belt from moving on the user's arm during inflation”, theapplicant understands and contemplates that the inflatable belt 100 maymove slightly during user movement, but should return to substantiallythe same position when movement, i.e. muscle contraction, is ceased.

This invention has the benefits that it is simple, contains minimalcomponents, and is cheap to construct and apply without any, or minimalsewing operations. Finally, the reader may not that while a straightoverlap configuration is exemplified, the features, components, andquantity may all be adapted to create a fold-back style of belt.

Alternate Embodiment—#17. FIGS. 7A, B depict a pre-inflated belt 700 foruse in BFR training. The pre-inflated belt 700 has a fixed volume of gastrapped inside the gas bladder 103, as shown in FIG. 7A, during themanufacturing process, with an optional input means 104, as shown inFIG. 7B, to refill the gas bladder or take a pressure reading of thepressure inside the gas bladder. Additionally, the pressure reading maycome transmitted wirelessly or via wire, from an embedded pressuresensing means 902 (not shown), for visibility on a pressure readout 703by the user. The gas bladder 103 may be formed by any of the conceptsdescribed herein, but is depicted by an outer belt material 102connected with inner belt material 101 in a hermetically sealed fashion.Tensioning means 702, depicted here as a ratchet style, is further incommunication with the outer belt material 102, or in the case of amolded, integrally formed belt, the molded component thereof. Thetensioning means 702 may be configured such that the gas bladder 103 iscapable of passing through the tensioning means, or the gas bladder maybe short enough, as in the targeted inflatable belt 300, such that theminimum circumference is achieved when one end of the gas bladdercontacts the other end during the tensioning process. An optionalpressure readout 703, which may be detachable, may come fixed to thepre-inflated belt 700 or the pre-inflated belt may simply have notchedmarkings or labeling means generally known in the art that illustrate tothe user how to consistently reproduce a certain pressure condition fromone time to the next. The notches or labeling means may correspond to atable, pre-calculated, and demonstrated, that links specific bodysegment girths with a specific notch or label, and predictsapproximately a corresponding bladder pressure. In such manner, it maybe possible to give guidance to a user on where to tension the beltwithout actually ever measuring the pressure inside. Such aconfiguration would prove beneficial in simplifying the process,providing consistency and reliability, and require no measurement orjudgement process by the user. As will be discussed later, an automatedsystem could be further simplified with a tensioning means such as arack and pinion, stepper motor, or other accurate positioning system tomeasure length of the belt, and use pre-calculated knowledge given thelimb circumference to infer the level of compression applied.

The use of the pre-inflated belt 700 is similar to prior embodimentsexcept there is no need to attach an inflation means 106, and thus theoverall system has fewer components and is cheaper to make. In the casethat notches or labels are provided, the user may tighten thepre-inflated belt to a specific notch or label position and may do sorepeatedly or may increase or decrease the tension from time to time.

Alternate Embodiment—#18. FIG. 8A, B show two variations for a pressurerelief valve combo 800. Various belt designs and systems have beendescribed above, and the applicant has referred several times to theability to combine various features and components to simplify theoverall system and part count. FIG. 8A illustrates a combination of amanual relief mechanism 801 and an automated pressure relief mechanism802, wherein the manual release mechanism is in-line with an air flowpath 109. In FIG. 8A, the manual relief mechanism 801 comprises a manualrelief plunger 804, trapped inside a pressure relief valve body 807, andin communication with a spring 803 (not shown) and o-ring 810. When noinflation means 106 (not shown) is attached, the spring 803 forces themanual relief plunger 804 against the pressure relief valve body 807such that the o-ring 810 makes contact between the pressure relive valvebody and the manual relief plunger to form an airtight seal and preventbackflow out the system. This mechanism is commonly employed in pressurerelief systems and well understood in the field of pneumatic control.For the automated relief valve mechanism 802, an adjustable cap 806 isscrewed up or down to compress a spring 803 (not shown), which in turnpushes a pressure relief plunger 805 to sandwich an o-ring 810 betweenthe pressure relief plunger and the pressure relief valve body 807 tocreate an airtight seal. The screwing ability of the adjustable cap 806gives the user flexibility to adjust the force that is holding thepressure relief plunger 805 against the pressure relief valve body 807which is an important feature because typical check valves, or pressurerelief valves have a tolerance of +/−20%, which is not acceptable forBFR training where a specific pressure limit is needed for safety andefficacy purposes. The automated pressure relief valve mechanism 802,may be considered analogous the pressure limiting valve 117 and, thus,herein disclosed is a mean for making the pressure limiting valve 117adjustable. Two hose barbs 808 are provided. One hose barb 808 isprovided on the side of the manual relief valve mechanism 801 forconnection of a pressure inflation means 106 (not shown). Thisconnection may have additional quick connect means such as valvecoupling 120 (not shown), and the connection may further automaticallycompress the manual relief valve mechanism 801 when connected to allowair to enter into the system according to the airflow path 109 withoutan additional action by the user to open the manual relief valve. On theother hose barb 808, the input port 104 (not shown), or gas hose 119(not shown) may be attached to accept air. Alternatively the belt valve107 with quick connect style could be attached on this side as well inwhich case the quick connection should further incorporate a gas flowshutoff means 108. When the user has the system connected, air flowsfrom the inflation means 106 into the opened manual relief valvemechanism 801, which is de-activated, and past the pressure reliefmechanism 802, which is closed, and into the inflatable belt 100. Whenthe pressure limit, according to the setting from the adjustable cap806, is reached, the pressure in the system overcomes the spring 803force associated with the pressure relief mechanism 802 and the pressurerelief plunger 805 retracts, thus allowing air to escape until the airpressure drops below, or approximately below the limit, and the seal isrestored, thus trapping a fixed, known pressure into the inflatable belt100. The inflation means 106 is then disconnected, during which actionthe manual relief mechanism 802 is activated as the spring re-engagesthe manual relief plunger 804 against the pressure relief valve body807, thus sealing the inlet and trapping the correct pressure inside.The manual relief plunger 804 is preferably exposed to the user suchthat they may depress it manually and relieve pressure from the belt atany time.

FIG. 8B illustrates another configuration of FIG. 8A wherein the manualrelief mechanism is removed from being in-line with the air flow path.To compensate, a one-way valve 809 in the form of a duckbill valve, isinserted into the inlet to allow air in, but not out. Otherwise, thevarious connection points and objects to the hose barbs 808, operationof the pressure relief mechanism 802 and manual relief mechanism 801operate in substantially the same way as in relation to FIG. 8A.

The pressure relief valve combo 800 may be beneficial in combiningvarious functions of valves discussed prior, and may be used inconjunction with, or instead of, the various valve configurationsdescribed prior. The pressure relief mechanism 802 may be configured tobe separable from the rest of the pressure relief valve combo 800 toallow for replacement with pressure relief mechanisms with differentmaximum pressure settings. Such detachment, and replacement can providea user with quick change maximum pressure settings without thecomplication of need a pressure readout to achieve a known,pre-determined pressure. This would reduce the bulk, cost, andcomplexity of the system and could provide for more accurate pressuresetting as inexpensive pressure readouts can vary but +/−3% of fullscale, and individual pressure relief mechanisms 802 could beindividually calibrated more accurately. Various adjustments may furtherbe made in such cases to the air flow paths, connection points, etc.without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Alternate Embodiment—#19. FIGS. 9A-D represent a novel electromechanicalblood flow restriction system 900 that incorporates an inflation means106, which is manually actuated, together with an electromechanicalpressure control system which is automated. FIGS. 9A, B show the beltdesign of FIG. 2C, but the reader may note this is but one example andthe electromechanical blood flow restriction system 900 may incorporateany of the inflatable belt 100 designs discussed in this application orother designs or prior art, or variations thereof, such as targetinginflatable belt 300, as the means for applying a compression to apredetermined range on a user's limb. Similarly, a latex, or similar,squeeze ball and hose are attached as the inflation means 106, but anysimilar actuators as previously discussed may serve this function aswell. Finally connection means to the belts or inflators may beconsidered covered by the myriad of examples previously listed on how toconnect and provide proper valve control for belts and inflation means.Thus, this embodiment will focus on the electromechanical aspects, andinteraction with the manually actuated inflation means 106.

It is important to first reiterate the distinct advantages of a manuallyactuated inflation means 106 versus an electromechanical inflationmeans. In particular, faster inflation times for a reasonably priced andsized package, cheaper overall cost, higher reliability, less noise,less weight, less battery usage and need for charging, causes the userto do a warmup which Sato states improves the effect and is a motiontaught by KAATSU Training protocols, more readily available, and stillothers that may be apparent to the reader. The distinct advantages of anelectromechanical inflation means is really only that the user doesn'tneed to do anything at all. However this could also present an unsafescenario where, should a user for example pass out during BFR Training,and the training needs to be discontinued, the system will continue tofunction automatically and inflate/deflate cycle the belts. In thehybrid manual and automated system conceived herein, a user mustthemselves re-introduce pressure upon deflation, thus it is actuallysafer to eliminate the inflation aspect from automation, and restrictthe automation to what pressure to maintain and how long to maintainthat pressure for. Sato has described a number of cycling protocols inaddition to the training protocols for how pressure should be variedover time, and the applicant may show that all such capabilities existin the eletromechanical blood flow restriction system 900 hereindescribed and claimed, with the added distinct advantages of eliminatingelectrical inflation means as stated above.

The electromechanical control component of the electromechanical bloodflow restriction system 900 shown in FIG. 9A, is comprised of anelectromechanical valve 901 in communication with an input port 104 tothe inflatable belt 100, the electromechanical valve further incommunication with a belt valve 107 and a microprocessor 903 that isconfigured to control the electromechanical control valve based on areal time pressure data and a pressure target data. The belt valve 107is further in communication with a valve coupling 120, which may beconfigured in a quick connect/disconnect fashion as previouslydescribed. However, whereas previously the belt valve 107 typicallyrequired a gas flow shutoff means 108 to trap a specific volume of gasin the gas bladder 103, the gas flow shutoff means in the configurationof FIG. 9A is not a required feature because the electromechanical valve901 can serve this function of trapping air in the gas bladder. This isimportant because the gas flow shutoff means 108 is a more expensiveoption than the belt valve 107 that does not have this feature. Apressure sensing means 902 is in further communication with the inputport 104 to sense a real time pressure measurement of the gas in the gasbladder 103, and relay this real time pressure data to themicroprocessor 903 to properly control the electromechanical valve 901.The pressure sensing means may be a pressure transducer of any suitablekind that takes physical measure of a gas pressure and transduces it toan electrical signal, be it analog of digital. The reader shall notethat a pressure limiting valve 117 could replace the need for a pressuresensing means 902 in terms of safety of not over-pressurizing the gasbladder 103. The microprocessor 903 may be any construction ofintegrated circuit such as FPGA, microcontroller, microprocessor, etc.The microprocessor 903 may be further configured to accept an inputprogram, for example a cycling program as described by Sato, and executethe pressure limiting and timing attributes of such a protocol, or justthe timing attributes in case a pressure limiting valve 117 is used tolimit the pressure to a maximum value. The programming of such aprotocol may be stored in memory, such as non-volatile RAM, (not shown),and any required supporting circuitry may similarly be provided. Theprogramming may be done through a common connection port, such as USB(not shown), by connecting the electromechanical blood flow restrictionsystem 900 to a PC, phone, or tablet, and downloading the program to themicroprocessor's memory through this mechanism. Alternatively, awireless communication means (not shown) may be provided such as wifi,Bluetooth classic, Bluetooth smart, etc. and the protocol may beprogrammed on the microprocessor 903 and stored in memory wirelessly.The microprocessor 903 may employ a basic control algorithm to compareactual real-time pressure data with a target value, and control theelectromechanical valve 901 as a means to limit the pressure in theinflatable belt 100 to not more than a target pressure data, which isdictated by the program. Such a pressure control protocol may simply bea monitoring of the pressure, then opening of the valve until thepressure drops below the target pressure data, as in the process of FIG.9C, or may employ more complicated means to achieve more accurateresults. However the reader may note that BFR, or KAATSU Training neednot be so precise that a few mmHg make a big difference in the outcome,for example if the actual pressure is 5 mm Hg less than the targetpressure because the valve was opened a little too long, so as long asthe pressure control protocol, and electromechanical blood flowrestriction system 900 prevent the pressure from going higher than thepressure target data for an extended period, the system is deemed to befunctioning safely and properly. User feedback (not shown) and userinput means (not shown) may additionally be provided to make the user'sexperience more sensible and user friendly. For example LEDs may be usedto indicate a status of the system, such as when the user should startpumping the inflation means 106 to refill the gas bladder 103, or an LCDmaybe use to communicate instructions to the user. Buttons may be usedsimilarly to take input from the user, such as a “START” command, or“PROCEED TO NEXT STAGE” command, or the input may alternatively be madewith haptic actuators like accelerometers that sense taps or tilts toregister commands. The reader may note that many such means ofcommunicating with a handheld electronic device are well known in theart and any such methods may be used to communicate data to, andregister commands and data from, the user.

FIG. 9B shows an alternate configuration of the electromechanical bloodflow restriction system 900 wherein the location of theelectromechanical valve 901 has been moved and the inflation means 106is in direct communication with the belt valve 107. In such aconfiguration the belt valve 107 employs a gas flow shutoff means 108 toprevent the gas from leaking out of the gas bladder 103 when the valvecoupling 120 is disconnected from the belt valve. FIG. 9B illustratesbut one configuration, and as previously discussed there are many suchvariations possibly by swapping components around and all suchconfigurations may be considered within the scope of this invention.

FIG. 9C illustrates a sample program for regulating pressure in theinflatable belt 100. Step 1 (S1) is that pressure target data is sent tothe microprocessor 903 to set one or more pressure targets for themicroprocessor. This step may apply to any point in the lifecycle of themicroprocessor, whether it be pre-programmed data in the factory, or theday of the training session, programmed by the user. This may simply bea single pressure limit, which is a training pressure, or may be aseries of pressure targets on timed intervals as described in FIG. 9D.Step 2 (S2) is that the electromechanical valve 901 is closed by themicroprocessor 903. Alternatively the electromechanical valve 901 may beconfigured in a normally closed position, requiring electricity to openit, and this step therefore may be omitted. An optional starting inputmay be sent, or entered by the user, or the microprocessor may start thesequence automatically once turned on. The microprocessor 903 sits andwaits, monitoring the real time pressure data from the pressure sensingmeans 902 at an appropriate rate, for example 10 Hz. The microprocessor903 may optionally alert the user, for example with audio, vibration, orLED feedback to begin pumping on the manual inflation means 106. As airflows into the belt (S3) and the pressure rises the pressure sensingmeans 902 is constantly feeding real time pressure data to themicroprocessor 903 (S4). Step 5 (S5) shows the microprocessor 903compares each data point from the pressure sensing means 902 with thepressure target data that was programmed. From here the microprocessor903 makes a decision based on the comparison output. If the real timepressure data is lower than the pressure target data (S7A), themicroprocessor 903 maintains the electromechanical valve 901 closed, andwaits for more air flow in, while continuously monitor and comparing thenew data to the target (S2-S6) until the real time pressure data ishigher than the target pressure data (S7B). After S7B, themicroprocessor 903 optionally alerts the user that they can stoppumping, and opens the electromechanical valve 901 in S8. From here, thesteps S4-S6 repeat, which is the monitoring cycle, until the real timepressure data is within a predetermined acceptable range from the targetpressure data, Such a range may be for example +0/−10 mm Hg from thetarget pressure data for example. Once the real time pressure data iswithin the target range, the electromechanical valve 901 is closed S10to maintain that pressure level inside the inflatable belt 100. If aworkout timer is used, which is an added safety feature of theelectromechanical blood flow restriction system 900, the workout time isstarted at this point as well. As FIG. 9A only illustrates a singlepressure target, the system does not do anything further until theworkout time (if set) expires in S11. At this point theelectromechanical valve 901 is opened S12 and air is released from theinflatable belt 100. At this point the system may be turned off, howevera few additional optional steps may provide a better experience for theuser. At S12, the electromechanical valve 901 is left open and is in asimilar state to just prior to S1, or after having been turned on forexample when the valve is normally open configuration. Theelectromechanical valve 901 may remain open waiting for input from theuser indicating they would like to start the training, or themicroprocessor 903 may hold the electromechanical valve closed inpreparation for a training session starting and sit at S3, constantlymonitoring to look for appropriate pressures. Any configuration ofsensory inputs and user feedback may be used to create nuances in thestartup and termination procedure and the applicant makes it clear thathe has contemplated all these variations. In the particular case of FIG.9A, no user input means is assumed, and therefore the electromechanicalblood flow restriction system must reset itself after each user, orpower cycle to reside in a “waiting state” at S3. In terms of whathappens after S11, a deflation time is then set S12 that waits forsufficient time to pass for all the air to be removed. At S13 thedeflation time expires, and the microprocessor 903 assumes sufficientgas has been removed from the gas bladder 103 and returns to S2. Theelectromechanical valve 901 may be normally open or normally closed. Theappropriate steps in 9A shall be modified, omitted, or added to providethe intended user experience as described, and it shall be clear to oneskilled in the art of how to make these basic modifications.

FIG. 9D illustrates a cycle function capability similar to thatdescribed in Sato's patents, but carried out with the simple novelelectromechanical blood flow restriction system 900. FIG. 9D illustrateshow the same capabilities as a fully automated system can be providedwith a hybrid manual/electromechanical system with all the advantagesdescribed above. In S1, a protocol is programmed into the microprocessor903 or associated memory. If normally open configuration, theelectromechanical valve 901 is closed by the microprocessor 903. Ifnormally closed configuration this step may be omitted. FIG. 9D assumesvarious input and output mechanisms to illustrate these functions withinthe system, and thus at S3, the user is alerted to activate theinflation means 106 to start putting air into the inflatable belts 100with the manual inflation means. Such alerts may be done with visualclues, audio clues, or haptic feedback to name but a few examples. S4shows air entering the system from the user's actions. Intermediarysteps between S4 and S5 have been omitted for clarity but the reader mayunderstand that a similar process from FIG. 9C S4-S9 is repeated tocause the pressure to reach within a target range of the target pressuredata in S5. Once the pressure target is reached, a pressurized stagetimer is started S6, to monitor the time the pressure is to bemaintained in the inflatable belt 100 according to the programmed cycleprotocol. If this is the first stage, the protocol timer is also startedto monitor the overall progress of the protocol and determine when toend the cycling functions. As the pressurization timer expires S7, theelectromechanical valve 901 is opened S8 and a depressurization stagetimer is started S9. When the de-pressurization time is expired, S2-S9are repeated according to the programmed protocol until the protocol isfinished and the protocol timer has expired S11. At this point theelectromechanical valve 901 is opened to release air and optionalpreparations S12 & S13 are made to prepare for the next user.Alternatively the electromechanical valve 903 may be left open, forexample in the case of a normally open valve, and an input meansutilized to signal to the microprocessor 903 to close the valve andprepare the system for a new session.

The reader may hereby note that two examples of how an electromechanicalblood flow restriction system 900 may operate have been described indetail, but there are many more ways in which the pressure may becontrolled vs time in an effective manner, and no such deviations fromthe prescribed procedures may be deemed to depart from the scope of thisinvention.

Alternate Embodiment—#20. FIG. 10 shows a cross section of a human armin the vicinity where the inflatable belt 100 should be placed. A targetcompression zone 301 is marked showing the approximate area that shouldbe compressed to provide venous restriction. The reader can clearly seethat the veins, and particularly the deep veins in the arm areconcentrated to specific locations and therefore compression around theentire circumference is not necessary to restrict the superficial anddeep venous system. In the image, the circumference to be compressed maybe configured to represent approximately 30% of the total circumferenceat minimum (because the superficial Cephalic vein may be compressed bythe non-inflatable portion of the belt, although the reader may also notthat some restriction, and potentially adequate restriction to get someeffect, may be achieved with even less coverage. As stated in relationto the target inflatable belt 300, whose principles can be extended toany of the belt designs or contemplated configurations thereof,compression of only a portion of the arm circumference may have thebenefit of creating a simpler, less bulky belt design, and provide amore comfortable experience to the user, versus Sato's and Wosowski'sdesigns. FIG. 10 shows the primary veins being directly on the inside ofthe arm, and a superficial vein slightly to the front medial side of thebicep. The reader may further note that the superficial veins may alsobe compressed by the belt spring, or other belt material that is notinflatable as the entire circumference is under some degree of radialcompression.

FIG. 11 shows a target compression zone 301 for the leg in a crosssectional view of the body in the vicinity of where the inflatable belt100 should be placed. Again the reader can see that the targetcompression zone 301 may be configured to represent approximately 30% ofthe total circumference, with the primary compression region being inthe front interior side at roughly a 45 degree angle.

Alternate Embodiment—#21. FIG. 12 shows two examples of other ratchetstyle mechanisms 112. The first is a configuration similar to a zip tie,with a lever that may be rotated forward to disengage from the teeth 122and release the ratchet. To tighten, the end of the mechanism with theteeth 122 is pulled through, and as each tooth passes the ratchet stylemechanism 112 it is prevented from return via mechanical interference.

The second image is another form of ratchet style mechanism 112 in theform of a loop shape where two ends, of mating profiles are pushed andguided together by the inner tooth-like profiles. As each mating tooth112 passes each other, the teeth click, and displace downward to fillthe space directly above the mating profile, and thus mechanicalinterference in the circumferential direction is used to prevent the twoends from separating. To release, the two ends are slid laterally apartas there is no mechanical interference in that direction.

Both concepts for simply adjusting and locking a circumference of aninflatable belt 100 may be considered acceptable variations of theratchet style mechanism 112, and could additionally serve to take theplace of the outer belt material 102 in a configuration such as FIG. 4 ,or be used in constant connection with an inflatable bladder 103 that isadhered or connected via suitable means to the interior surface of thesemechanisms. If the optional belt spring 114 is desired, at some pointalong the length of the belt, the belt spring may be inserted into the“tail” of these mechanisms between the tail and the gripping element togive the mechanisms some additional compliance.

Alternate Embodiment—#22. FIG. 13 shows a few physical prototypes ofvarious inflatable belt 100 designs. The figure on the left is an actualprototype of FIG. 1J, with the addition of the body interface component200. The middle image is the same inflatable belt 100 of FIG. 1J, with abody interface component 200 that is slightly wider than the outer beltmaterial 102, and further serves to protect the user against the edge ofthe outer belt material. The belt tension strap 121 is sufficiently longthat it may be grabbed by the arm where the inflatable belt 100 isapplied to hold the position, while the user, with their opposite hand,uses the cam-lock style mechanism 113 as a handle, moves it in thedirection opposite the belt tension strap to tighten down the inflatablebelt.

The third image is an inflatable belt 100 with a belt tension strap 121and cam lock mechanism 113, but with the addition of a loop coupler 115attached to the belt spring 114, and the belt tension strap is fedthrough the loop coupler and then back through the cam lock mechanism.This configuration provides a small amount of pre-tension to theinflatable belt 100 and may further assist in reduction of rotation.

Alternate Embodiment—#23. FIG. 14A-E illustrate an adjustable distancemeasuring and positive locking system 1400 designed to make itprescriptive and straightforward for a novice to properly set theinitial tension of a belt. Sato never addresses the initial tension inany of his applications related to inflatable belts, and this is a majoroversight. KAATSU equipment does employ a mechanism for measuringinitial tension but it is an iterative feedback loop process of setting,checking, and resetting, and therefore overly cumbersome and timeconsuming. Sato does discuss in U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,618 a tensionmeasuring system, but this is in relation to operating tension, notinitial tension, and is further susceptible to errors as the adjustmentsand hysteresis in the spring system Sato describes can cause significantdifferences in expected vs actual tension.

FIG. 14A shows a non-inflated belt 1401 similar to Sato's belt in U.S.Pat. No. 6,149,618, preferably made of some elastic material such asneoprene rubber. A first fastening means 110 is affixed to the outersurface of the non-inflatable belt 1401, at a point along the length ofthe belt as shown. The first fastening means 110 may cover the fulllength or only a portion thereof, and may start at one end, or somewhereother than at one end. An optional distance indicator 1402 may be screenprinted, sewn on, or otherwise connected to the first fastening means110, such that a scale is visibly formed on the non-inflated belt.Alternatively, the distance indicator 1402 may be a separate ruler orother devices that is not affixed in any way to the non-inflatable belt1401. The distance indicator 1402 may incorporate markings that indicatea prescribed distance along the length for attachment of a positivelocking means 112 that is in turn part of a positive lock adjustment1403, which adheres to first fastening means 110 via second fasteningmeans 111, also part of the positive lock adjustment. The positive lockadjustment 1403 may simply be made of a piece of hook fastener, with thehook side facing the loop fastener (i.e. first fastening means 110), anda positive locking means 112, such as a button snap, fixed to the hookfastener with the button snap facing upwards. The positive lockadjustment 1403 may be square, round, oblong, etc. and may incorporatemarkings that are obvious as to how to place against the distanceindicator 1401 to achieve the desired setting. The positive lockingmeans 112 is preferably a button snap, but may be any other suchpositive locking means such there is only one position at which thelocking function may be achieved, and this precise location of thepositive locking means is achieved. For example, it may be a hook, clip,or other mechanical type of interference where tolerances and dimensionsare known and controllable. A mating component of the positive lockingmeans 112 is placed on one end of the non-inflated belt 1401, such thatwhen the belt is wrapped around the limb, the two components of thepositive locking means are connected, and may be so connected in onlyone way, forming a known and predicable circumferential length of thenon-inflatable belt.

To operate, the user follows the steps of FIG. 5E. The user firstmeasures the girth of the limb to be compressed (S1). Then the userlooks up on a table provided by the manufacturer, or equivalentinstructor, the distance at which to place the positive lock adjustment1403 along the distance indicator 1402 (S2). The user notes thatdistance on the distance indicator 1402 (S3) and attaches the positivelock adjustment 1403 thereon (S4), thus fixing the location of one endof the positive locking means 112. Then the user takes thenon-inflatable belt 1401 and wraps it around the limb at the desiredlocation (S5), and tightens until the mating end of the positive lockingmeans 112 can reach the part on the positive lock adjustment 1403, andconnects the two ends together (S6). In the case of snaps, this issimply snapping the two ends together to lock the initial circumferenceof the non-inflatable belt 1401.

The reader shall note that all such distance measuring and positivelocking systems 1400 as described herein may be adapted to any of theinventions described in this application or the previously filedprovisional application, and all such derivations and combinations shallbe considered within the scope of this invention. Further the readershall note that while a straight overlap style belt is described anddepicted in FIG. 14A, a loop coupler 115 (not shown in FIG. 14A) maysimilarly be used to transform the configuration to a fold-back designas shown by Sato. An added benefit is that the user has a tactile, or“positive” feel to know that they have the band tensioned to the rightamount and fastened in the right place. Often, depending on the limbgirth, the attachment point is in a place that is not visible and so ageneric scale as shown in Sato, without positive engagement, does notactually help the user. The applicant has solved this issue with thepositive locking means 112. A further advantage of the positive lockingmeans 112 is that it avoids the wear of hook and loop fastener overtime. Sato, and indeed the applicant, advocate hook and loop fastener asimple mechanism for locking the circumference of the inflatable belt100. However repeated application and removal of the hook componentleads to fraying of the loop material. By using a positive locking means112 that doesn't need to be removed, or only rarely so, the user doesn'timpose this wear and tear on their product, and lifetime is improved,yet the infinite adjustability afforded by the hook and loop fastener isstill maintained.

Alternate Embodiment—#24. FIG. 14B shows an adjustable distancemeasuring and positive locking system 1400 as adapted to an inflatablebelt 100. The reader shall note the construction principles stated inthe preferred embodiment and other embodiments related to inflatablebelts 100 shall be combinable in a reasonable manner with modificationsknown to those skilled in the art, and all such combinations andvariations need not be described further.

FIG. 14C further shows a perspective view of the adjustable distancemeasuring and positive locking system 1400 as adapted to the inflatablebelt 100 of a linked inflatable chamber concept as described in theprovisional applications incorporated herein in full by reference. FIG.14D shows a physical prototype that was constructed with this design.The inflatable belt 100 contains similar key features such as input port104, inner belt material 101, and outer belt material 102. The notabledifference is that instead of a second fastening means 111 connected tothe end of the first fastening means 110, a positive locking means 1404is placed in communication with the first fastening means. Consequently,a positive lock adjustment 1403, containing the mating part of thepositive locking means 1404 is placed at a length along the firstfastening means 110 as shown in FIG. 14C. The specific location of thepositive lock adjustment 1403 is made as previously described eitherwith incorporation of a distance indicator 1402 on the inflatable belt100 itself or measuring with an external distance indicator such as aruler.

FIG. 14C is a good example of a fold back style belt and illustrates howthe adjustable distance measuring and positive locking system 1400 canbe adapted to one of the many embodiments described in this, and thepreviously filed, provision applications.

FIG. 14D illustrates a physical prototype of the combination discussedabove with a few notable features. First, the overlap length 139concept, represented by E, is clearly illustrated to show how aninflatable bladder 103 can overlap itself to accommodate users withsmaller limb girths. Second, a coloring element in the form of handle130, is shown to make identification of sizes simple and quick, which isimportant in a facility that uses lots of belts. Third, optionalreflective edging 131, is employed to assist safety for users who wantto do BFR training outside in dark conditions such as running on theside of the road. Finally, an optional piece of second fastening means111 is fixed around the positive locking means 1404 on the firstfastening means 110 and adjacent to the handle 130. This optional secondfastening means 111 serves a function that the user can still tightenand use the inflatable belt 100 should they lose the lock from positivelock adjustment 1403. Similarly, in a situation where the inflatablebelt 100 is to be used by an expert on lots of clients one afteranother, it may be cumbersome to stop and measure the initial tensionsettings for each user. Further, the instructor is likely wellexperienced by that time to get the initial tension approximatelycorrect without need of the distance measuring and positive lockingsystem 1400 and this it is not necessary. Indeed, even an individualuser will become familiar with the feel and may not need to use thisprescribed distance more than the first few times. By including thisoptional second fastening means 111, all users and usage characteristicsmay be accommodated.

FIG. 14E illustrates a sample procedure by which the distance measuringand positive locking system 1400 may be used. First, the user in S1measures the girth of the extremity in the location where they desire toplace the inflatable belt 100. Next, S2, the user looks up a prescribeddistance in a provided table as to where along the length of the beltthey should place the positive lock adjustment 1403 based on their limbgirth measurement. Then, S3, the user measures the location of where toplace the positive lock adjustment 1403, or uses a provided distanceindicator 1402, and places the positive lock adjustment on the outersurface of the first fastening means 110 (S4). Then, (S5) the user takesthe end of the belt with the mating positive locking means 1404 andpulls the belt tight such that the two positive locking means (one onthe first fastening means 110 and one on the end of the belt) mate upand lock the belt in a circumference (S6). Therein, the inflatable belt100 is fixed at a prescribed distance appropriate for the specific girthof the body segment they are securing to.

Finally it is important to stress again the importance of getting theinitial tension precise and correct, which is the objective of thedistance measuring and positive locking system 1400. Too loose initialtensions in the belts lead to ineffective BFR Training because thecompression, albeit largely insensitive to initial positioning in thecase of the design herein, may simply not have enough shrinkage andchamber expansion to apply adequate compression. Contrarily, too tightinitial tension in the belts can lead to blood flow occlusion and unsafeoperating conditions. All current art and research studies either ignorethe concept all together, or use subjective measures of “feel” in orderto instruct users how to tension existing belts. This is typicallyeither sub-optimal or unsafe, and the applicant's invention solves theseissues with a prescriptive system based on limb circumference thatallows a user to very precisely, accurately, and repeatedly set theinitial tension of the inflatable belt 100 around the limb prior toinflation.

Alternate Embodiment—#25. Referring to FIG. 15 , another concept forprescribing an initial tension is described that does not requireadditional components but only takes advantage of the properties of theinflatable belt 100, and manipulation of the pressure inside torepeatedly set an initial pre-determined tension around a body segment.The reader shall note that this method may be employed with theapplications inventions or any other invention in the prior art.

In S1, the inflatable belt 100 is left off the body segment and simplyconnected to an inflation means 106 and a pressure readout 703 as hasbeen shown in prior embodiments. The reader shall not the connectionsmay be permanent, or semi-permanent, as has been previously discussedand S1 may not be necessary.

In S2, the inflatable belt 100 is pre-inflated to an initial pressurewhile not on the body segment. The initial pressure may be 50 mm Hg forexample, but any appreciable pressure may suffice for the purposes ofillustrating this method.

In S3, the inflatable belt 100 is wrapped around a body segment, towhich it will be secured.

In S4, the inflatable belt 100 is tensioned around the body segmentwhile the pressure readout 703 is monitored, and tension increased untilthe pressure readout reaches a pre-determined tensioned pressure. Thereader shall note may such tensioning methods and mechanisms forholding, increasing, releasing tension have been disclosed in thisapplication and the prior art and shall be applicable to this method. S4substantially terminates the process of setting an initial belt tensionaround a body segment that will be consistent from one session to thenext and does not require additional fasteners, distance indicators, etcas long as the initial pressure and the tensioned pressure remainconsistent. Both variables may be prescribed for a specific limb girthso that the user does not need to guess, or experiment, but rather canget this data from a profile or lookup table and operate without havingto think much. As Sato describes, simplifying BFR training, isimperative to widespread adoption.

In S5, the inflation means 106 and pressure readout 703 may bedisconnected from the inflatable 100, but in the case these componentsare permanently connected, this step may be omitted.

Finally, in S6, the user now has a belt secured to their body segment ata prescribed, pre-determined tension and may start to move.

KAATSU teaches an initial pressure setting protocol consisting ofplacing the belt on the limb and then inflating and reading a readout.This method is overly cumbersome in that if the pressures are not asthey should be the applicant must remove the belt, re-adjust it, andre-inflate to the initial pressure. This process could be iterative andis not real-time, so the applicants inventive method will besignificantly faster and requires no re-adjustment, saving time andfrustration.

The reader will see that the various inventions described herein,provide an economical way to easily create a multifunctional, safe,inexpensive, easy to use blood flow restriction system and inflatablebelt for incorporation therein. Additionally the reader will see thatinventions described herein may take advantage of current massproduction processes to keep the additional cost minimal, and that byreducing component count, the applicant has not only reduced themanufacturing costs but also the level of complexity of operating thesystem, and the bulk of the system which, since it is a wearable productto be used during exercise, is a significant factor as Sato himselfdescribes. The reader has also provided for improved initial tensioningof the belt, which improves consistency, the prescriptive nature, andthe safety to avoid over tensioning and risk of occlusion of blood flow.

While the above description contains specificities, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as anexemplification of preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variationsare possible.

Belt Shapes/Sizes

For example, in the case of inflatable belt shape, the inflatableportion of the belt may be of any suitable geometry, size and shape toprovide sufficient blood flow restriction as discussed above. Belts maycome in multiple lengths and widths to accommodate a range ofindividuals, and not necessarily minimized in the number of variations,but rather targeted toward a specific range of limb girths, or usertypes. It may be noted that wider cuffs have been shown to restrict flowto the same extent at lower pressures and may offer more comfort forcertain applications that don't require dynamic movements. Such widthvariations for a specific user, such as assisting the elderly, mayimprove comfort while maintaining effectiveness. Belt shapes whichemploy enough tissue displacement to restrict venous return, such assome examples described herein, may be used, and may not necessarilycover the entire limb. All such configurations of profiles, sizes ofbelts, gas bladders, locations placements of such belts on the body, andbladders on belts, may be considered within the scope of thisapplication.

Belt Materials

Various belt and blood flow restriction system designs have beendescribed herein, and various material constructions and configurationshave likewise been disclosed. Various components being elastic, andrelative degrees of elasticity have further been noted. The reader maynot that for the sake of brevity, not all such combinations and materialtypes have been discussed, but all such combinations, materialproperties or configurations may be considered within the scope of thisinvention. For example, in the case of the fastening means, cam-locks,ratchets, and hook and loop fasteners have been described, however manyother such means of fastening two objects together may be used such as ahigh friction joint tri-glide style mechanism, glues or adhesives, ropesor knots, mechanical hooks, buttons, racks and pinions, high frictionsurfaces, etc may be consider encompassed within the term fasteningmeans and this term interpreted as broadly as possible. Further, in thecase of elastic members or fabrics, polyurethane coated fabrics may besubstituted for PVC coated fabrics or a similar material, and urethanemolds, but be of latex rubber, or similar material. In all such caseswhere specific materials are called out, the readers may understandthat, this specification is but one example, and as long as the generalconcept described is achieved, the specific material, or specificproperty thereof, is not a requirement of the invention.

Materials described similarly may be understood to encompasscombinations of materials, varying material properties such as durometeror elastic modulus, lengths and widths, and profiles, which effectproperties such as elasticity and coefficient of friction, may beconsidered within the scope of this invention. For example, where amaterial is deemed to be of a certain degree of elasticity, the readermay note that all materials have some elastic properties, and what isimportant is the function of the material as described herein. Furtherthe readers may note that where a material may be discussed as elastic,a non-elastic material may be combined with an elastic material to formwhat would be considered the original member (or visa-versa), but whichis now two components and may not specifically match the descriptionherein. However, in such cases, the readers may note that the applicanthas in fact considered that materials may be combined to perform thefunction of the elements of the inventions described herein, but has notmade all such descriptions because of the endless possible combinationspossible. For example the belt spring disclosed may consist of anelastic webbing sewn to an inelastic tail, or may comprise an elasticmaterial, sewn to an in-elastic material, sewn to another even moreelastic material. All such combinations yield the same result asoriginally disclosed that the belt spring member has some degree ofelasticity. Yet another example is the reader may note that some elementproperties may be altered to remove various components. For example theinflatable belt may have some degree of elasticity in order tocompensate for muscle contraction, and therefore render the belt springunnecessary. Again, the reader may note that all such combinations oromissions of components, or altering of various component properties maybe considered within the scope of this invention.

Valves

Further, various valves have been disclosed and discussed hereinrelating to quick connect coupling valves, pressure relief valves,manual release valves, electromechanical valves, having gas glowshutoffs, not having gas flow shutoffs etc. The readers may recognizethat there are many incarnations of all these kinds of valves includingmechanisms, materials, fabrication technique, sizes, port designs,connections means, etc. For example, a coupling valve may be configuredfor quick connect with locking means, such as a clasp, or break awaymeans, or screw type, as some limited examples. The coupling valve mayhave a shutoff means to trap gas upon disconnection one or both sides ofthe coupling valve, and the shutoff means may be any of such knowmechanism including, but not limited to, duckbill valve, spring plunger,etc. Pressure relief valves and manual release valves similarly come inmany shapes, sizes, materials, such as spring loaded, adjustable,non-adjustable, etc. Manual release valves further may be plunger style,screw on and off, pull tab release, rip cord release, etc.Electromechanical valves may be motor actuated, solenoid valves, or anyother such valve that employs electric current to open and close. Thereader may further note that any combination of such valves into asingle housing and design may prove advantageous for manufacturing andcost savings. A few designs are disclosed herein, but represent only afew of many such combinations and design variations. Therefore, readermay understand the basic concept of a belt that needs to receive airinto at some point, either multiple times, or one time in a factory, andthe belt is therefore connected to an inflation means at least once inits lifetime. In the case where the belt needs to be inflated anddeflated, one or more valves must be used to allow air into the belt,but prevent air from escaping until deemed appropriate by the user.Valves, or valve features, such as pressure limiting capability, may befurther added to the system, either permanently, or semi-permanently aspreviously discussed in the preferred embodiment, or removable andconnectable to the inflatable belt, as proves most advantageous, and aslong as the belt has enough air to perform sufficient blood flowrestriction, and satisfactorily maintains this air during the trainingprocedure, any and all combinations of valve quantities, types,features, etc. shall be deemed considered and within the scope of theherein disclosed inventions. Valves may further be made to be adjustableor left non-adjustable, and specific configuration may be the mostappropriate for a given belt design.

User

The user in the context of this application may be deemed to mean theperson using the inventions described. This may be a client, patient,instructor, personal user, doctor, athletic trainer, coach, etc.

Electromechanical Function

The application has disclosed various modes of operation of anelectromechanical system for controlling inflation pressure in theinflatable belts with electromechanical valves and manual inflationmeans. The reader shall note that while the manual inflation meansyields certain advantages as discussed herein, inflation means may alsobe electromechanical as described in the prior art. Further, theapplicant has disclosed various procedures of how such manual pluselectromechanical systems function, but the reader shall note thatvarious steps may be omitted, or repeated to yield desired effects, andvarious additional sensors may be added to further augment such systems.For example, instead of holding the electromechanical valve open at theend of a protocol, the system may hold it closed and wait for a signalfrom the user, for example a shake that is sensed by an accelerometer(not shown), to wake up from a sleep mode and open the valve. This wouldsave battery power for example. Many such variations and sensorcombinations may be disclosed in further applications. Another exampleis the various timers may be omitted and simply wait for a user todisconnect the inflation means and hold whatever pressure is inside. Orthere may be input means to adjust the pressure during the protocol.Data may not be sent to the microcontroller to set a pressure, and thismay just be a preset factory setting for example. Active pressureregulation may be added, instead as described in FIG. 9 , where thepressure goes above a target, and then is dropped until it is below thetarget, and not inflated any more. Active pressure regulation may allowthe user to add a little more air into the system to further get closerto the target, or in the case of fully automated system, may add it theair itself. Workout timers may also be ignored, and while it adds anelement of safety, it is not an essential feature to illustrate how anmanual plus electromechanical system can function in a similar way to afully manual system. The reader may note the many combinations andfeatures may be added or omitted and still the core inventions disclosedand claimed herein may be considered to encompass all such iterations.

General

One skilled in the art will recognized any minor modifications thatwould be needed for such an intermingling and such modifications may beconsidered within the scope of this specification and claims. Further,it may be recognized that many of the components described may becombined into a single object via different manufacturing processes suchas welding, injection molding, casting, etc. While the applicantdiscusses some of these options briefly in the application, it may berecognized any and all combinations of the components discussed hereinmay be considered within the scope of this application and covered bythe claims written. Similarly, it may be recognized that many componentsin the system and their connection points, or connection means, may alsobe interchanged or rearranged to achieve the same effect as thedisclosed configurations. For example, where it is discussed that it maybe advantageous to de-couple the inflation means from the inflatablebelt, and a pressure relief valve is used to limit a maximum pressure inthe belt, the pressure relief valve may reside either on the belt sideof the coupling or the inflation means side of the coupling. In the caseof residing on the belt side of the coupling, then no further shutoffmechanism is necessary on the belt side of the coupling. However, theinvention will function substantially the same if the coupling employs ashutoff function to keep air in the belt, which is opened duringconnection of the inflation means, and the pressure relief valve is onthe inflation means side of the coupling. In such a case, as long as theinflation means is connected, the pressure relief valve is in the sameair-circuit as the belt, and limits the pressure therein. Upondisconnection however the pressure relief valve is not connected in theair-circuit of the belt, however neither is the inflation means and thusthere is no risk of too high pressures accumulating in the belt. Thusthe system is substantially similar in both cases. This is but oneexample, and in general, valves, and valve types, fastening means, suchas cam locks, hook and loop fasteners, ratchet style mechanisms, beltsprings, inner and outer belt materials etc. may be interchanged, usedin quantities of more than one, altered in width, length, or profile,employed in conjunction of overlapping belt styles, or doubling back ofbelt styles for locking, or more complicated belt designs such as thoseshown in patents to Sato, and the inventions disclosed herein may beconsidered to have encompassed all such permutations and combinations ofsuch components. Yet another example is the inflatable belt may have twoinput ports, one to allow air in and another in communication with anoutlet system such as a pressure relief valve. While such design is notshown in the figures above, the reader may note this concept is anotherexample of how multiple items may be employed, and components shiftedwithin the system to connect with different components, while the sameoverall system and effectiveness is maintained. Further still, thelocation and placement of various elements may be moved and altered suchthat they appear to differ from the figures shown, and descriptionattached, however, all such configurations and combinations may beconsidered within the scope of the inventions disclosed herein. Forexample, in the case of the hook and loop fastener shown on theinflatable belt in FIG. 1K, the hook and loop fastener may be exchangedand the function still maintained. In addition, the location of theinput port may be in the middle of the inflatable belt instead of on oneend. The body interface component, such as neoprene rubber, shown inFIG. 1 E may be permanently attached the inflatable bladder, or it maybe removable. If removable, the attachment means may be for example,hook and loop fasteners, and the fasteners may be along the edges asshown in FIG. 1A, B or may run along the full width of both theinflatable bladder and body interface component. In the case the hookand loop fasteners run along the full width, they may be elastic suchthat the inflatable bladder may still inflate against the user's limb.As illustrated, there are many constructional permutations andcombinations, and altering of various material properties which yieldsatisfactory results in an inflatable belt for use in a blood flowrestriction system, and all such combinations and permutations andmaterial property choices may be considered within the scope of thisinvention.

Belt Configurations

As has been discussed in both this application and patents to Sato,there are a variety of ways to form a belt around a user's limb and eachhas some advantages and disadvantages as discussed in the variousapplications. The reader may recognize that the inventive conceptsdisclosed herein may be considered adaptable, by changing, but limitedto, the following: size, length, location, neighboring components,adding or removing one or more components, such as a loop coupler,material property, such as elasticity, etc. Such modifications representnumerous permutations and configurations which are too many toreasonably depict and describe herein, however the reader may understandthat the applicant has thought of such reasonable applications, and mayconsider as such, part of the scope of this disclosed invention.

Purpose of Inflatable Belts

The previous discussion has extensively covered the use of theapplicant's invention and inflatable belt 100 design in the context of amuscle development tool used for BFR training. However the applicantwould like to point out that the generic construction can be useful forwrapping anything tight against the body, and not necessarily for thepurpose of restricting blood flow.

Some purposes for this could be affixing, or otherwise integrating thedesign to clothing to pull a section of clothing tight against the arm,leg, or even waist as in a traditional belt. Such consideration may beuseful for example in conjunction with an unweighting system where it isoften difficult to have garments grab, or adhere to the body as avertical force is applied. In this circumstance, the applicationsinvention may serve to aid in wrapping or grabbing onto a body in orderto lock and provide an anchor off of which to pull. The belt could beapplied external to the garment or integrated into the garment, forexample a pair of shorts, or a shirt. The shrinking belt portion maywarp around the chest, or waist, or arms, or any part of the body so asto fulfill its purpose. Any sort of lifting or force transfer apparatusmay be connected to the belt itself, or to a structure that is connectedto the belt, such that the load is eventually transferred to the body insuch a way that the belt helps with efficient and comfortable loadtransfer.

Another example may be applying compression in the case of a wrapping anice bag or heating pad to the limb. In these cases, it is oftendifficult to get a good wrap on the limb, or requires a lot of plasticto wrap around in order to stay in place when the person stands up orwants to move from one spot to another. In these cases, a fast inflatingsleeve that sounds an ice bag or heating pad, and that secures it tightto a limb may be particularly useful for quick on/off, and withoutwasting materials such as plastic wrap that is commonly used.

In any of these, or related use cases, the reader shall understand thatall the designs, aspects, characteristics, methods, and inventionsdescribed in this application shall be applicable to such use cases, andthis generic concept of securing a belt to a body segment make takeadvantage of the inventions described in this specification and theprovided claims.

Although the description above contains many specifications, theseshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but asmerely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferredembodiments of this invention. Thus the scope of this invention shouldbe determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, ratherthan by the examples given.

What is claimed is:
 1. A belt for securing to a body segment, the beltcomprising: an inner belt material; an outer belt material, wherein theinner belt material has a higher degree of elasticity than the outerbelt material, and wherein the inner belt material and the outer beltmaterial are connected along a perimeter to form a substantiallyairtight gas bladder for accepting a gas; an input port in communicationwith the gas bladder, wherein the input port comprises a tube heatsealed between the inner belt material and the outer belt material; anelastic belt fastening means for fastening the belt around the bodysegment, wherein the belt fastening means comprises a first fasteningmeans associated with a first end of the belt and a second fasteningmeans associated with a second end of the belt, and the first fasteningmeans is attachable to the second fastening means to limit an initialcircumference of the belt when wrapped around the body segment; at leastone neoprene body interfacing component configured to locate the beltexterior to the body segment by a distance of at least about 1.5 mm andless than about 5 mm prior to inflation of the gas bladder; a loopcoupler associated with an end of the belt; and a stop mechanismassociated with one of the first fastening means or the second fasteningmeans which prevents the associated fastening means from exiting theloop coupler, keeping the belt in a substantially ring-like shape. 2.The belt of claim 1, further comprising: a positive locking means incommunication with the first fastening means; and a positive lockadjustment at a length along the first fastening means.
 3. The belt ofclaim 1, wherein the stop mechanism comprises a bar which mechanicallyinterferes with the loop coupler.
 4. The belt of claim 1, furthercomprising a non-removable an electromechanical pump in communicationwith the belt.
 5. The belt of claim 4, further comprising amicroprocessor, wherein: the microprocessor is configured to storeinstructions for the electromechanical pump, the microprocessor isconfigured to communicate with the electromechanical pump, themicroprocessor is configured to receive instructions from an externalcomputer, and the external computer comprises a PC, phone, or tablet. 6.The belt of claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receiveinstructions from the external computer via wireless communication. 7.The belt of claim 5, wherein the microprocessor is configured to receiveuser feedback.
 8. The belt of claim 1, wherein the outer belt materialis machine washable, wherein the inner belt material comprisespolyurethane coated nylon stretch fabric, wherein the body segment is alimb, and wherein the gas bladder is configured to cover at least 30% ofa user's limb circumference.
 9. The belt of claim 8, wherein the gasbladder is not configured to cover the user's entire limb circumference,and wherein the gas bladder is configured to only apply compression to aspecific region on the limb.
 10. The belt of claim 8, wherein a lengthof the gas bladder is equal to the length of the smallest limbcircumference of the expected user such that the gas bladder neveroverlaps itself.
 11. The belt of claim 1, wherein the belt furthercomprises: a pressure readout device; and an automated pressure reliefmechanism comprising a pressure limiting valve.
 12. The belt of claim11, wherein the automated pressure relief mechanism is combined with amanual relief mechanism to form a pressure relief valve combo, whereinthe automated pressure relief mechanism comprises an adjustable capwhich is configured to compress a spring which in turn pushes a pressurerelief plunger to sandwich an o-ring between the pressure relief plungerand a pressure relief valve body to create an airtight seal, and whereinthe pressure readout device is in communication with a gas hose inbetween the automated pressure relief mechanism and an inflation means.13. The belt of claim 1, wherein the belt is configured to produce anobstruction or impediment to deep venous flow coming out of the bodysegment.
 14. The belt of claim 1, wherein the at least one bodyinterfacing component is removable.
 15. The belt of claim 1, wherein thegas bladder comprises a first circumference at a first edge of the gasbladder and a second circumference at a second edge of the gas bladder,wherein the first circumference is greater than the secondcircumference.
 16. The belt of claim 1, wherein the gas bladdercomprises additional anti roll features on either side configured toprevent the belt from moving on the user's limb during inflation, musclecontraction, and exercise.
 17. The belt of claim 1, further comprisingnotched markings, wherein the notched markings correspond to apre-calculated table that links specific body segment girths with aspecific notched marking.
 18. The belt of claim 1, further comprisingreflective edging.